WEC absconder recaptured in hometown

LINCOLN (AP) -- An 18-year-old from Lincoln walked away from the state camp in McCook was recaptured in Lincoln.

Red Willow County authorities say Steven Brandes was reported missing from the camp on May 15.

On Tuesday, Lincoln police got a tip that Brandes was back in his hometown.

Police spokeswoman Katie Flood said Thursday that Brandes escaped capture twice that day. On Tuesday night he was spotted walking down a street.

Police cordoned off the area and sent in an officer with his police dog. The officer spotted Brandes in a treehouse after the dog detected Brandes' scent nearby.

Flood says Brandes was taken into custody without incident.

Brandes had been sent to the McCook camp after running away from a youth rehabilitation center in Kearney last year.