Child Abuser Captured on Grand Ave. After Escaping from Salem

WAUKESHA, WI — A man convicted of child abuse who escaped from the Oregon Correctional Center in Salem was tracked down by Waukesha police on Tuesday, hiding in a relative's apartment on Grand Ave.

According to police, Justin J. Hodgkins walked away from Oregon State Correctional Center located in Salem WI. Hodgkins was originally from Waukesha and it was believed that he would be returning to the area attempting to visit family.

Hodgkins had been charged with three counts of felony child abuse and one count of recklessly endangering safety in 2010. Two of the child abuse charges were dismissed but read into the official court record.

On May 8, 2017, a Waukesha Police Officer was in the 1800 block of S. Grand Avenue checking for Hodgkins. He observed a subject matching Hodgkin’s description outside an apartment and requested additional resources to respond to his location. Additional officers along with the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Unit responded to assist in the search.

After about one hour, members of the community came forward with information that Hodgkins was in fact hiding in the building. Hodgkins was eventually located hiding in the basement and was taken into custody without incident.

Authorities would like to thank the community for coming forward and assisting us in capturing this dangerous fugitive. Local police will be working with the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department and the Department of Corrections to return Hodgkins.

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image via waukesha police