FOUR YOUTHS BREAK OUT OF JUVENILE HALL.

Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer

SYLMAR - Authorities were looking for four teens Thursday who escaped from Sylmar Juvenile Hall through the ceiling and carjacked and kidnapped a man before demanding that they be dropped off in South Los Angeles.

Neighborhoods across the northeast San Fernando Valley were searched by police in patrol cars and on foot, bikes and helicopters to track down Isaiah Walker, Kenny Mack, Nicolas Pipkins all 17 years old, and Darral Duncan, who is 14.

Police discovered the escape at 3:30 a.m. inside Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall. The foursome used bed sheets to climb through the ceiling.

A half hour later, they stopped at a home two blocks from the facility. A woman who came to the door was told by one of the teens that their car broke down and asked her to make some phone calls, police said. She told the foursome that she reached an answering machine and they left the residence and the woman unharmed.

Later Thursday morning, a man told police the teens approached him in his vehicle and simulated a handgun. They carjacked and kidnapped him and ordered him to drive to Imperial Highway and Broadway in South Los Angeles, where he dropped them off.

He too was uninjured.

``One of the minors has been recently convicted of attempted murder and is awaiting sentencing,'' said Anita Vigil, spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Probation Department.

The remaining minors had been arrested on suspicion of burglary, robbery and possession of drugs.

Vigil said while the search continues, hearings at the nearby courthouse will be held as scheduled, though activities inside juvenile hall have been suspended except for medical visits.

She said she could not release detailed information of the escape.

``This is pretty sophisticated, but we can't discuss the particulars,'' she said.

Probation officers have said the three county juvenile halls are understaffed. Earlier this year, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors ratified a three-year contract for thousands of probation officers, providing a 5 percent raise, a $1,300 bonus and a uniform allowance.

Additional funds were to be released to help recruit more than 200 additional probation officers and staffers, especially for the county's three juvenile halls.

``The department will be conducting an assessment of all issues that affect the safety and security of minors and staff at the facility at the conclusion of this investigation,'' Vigil said. ``We know the department has been moving quickly to increase staffing levels. Unfortunately this happened before we were able to bring on the level of staffing that was recommended.''

Police said the boys are from South Los Angeles and the Antelope Valley, are affiliated with gangs, possibly armed and considered dangerous.

They were last seen wearing black pants, white T-shirts, and blue and gray sweat shirts marked with the initials SJH.

Anyone with information is asked to call the LAPD's Mission Division at [phone] or the county's Probation Department at [phone].

Susan Abram, [phone]

susan.abram(at)dailynews.com