The California Highway Patrol is on the hunt for a teenage girl who managed to slip out of handcuffs and walk right out of their Oakland headquarters on Wednesday morning.
Parents and family of the teen, who police said was wanted on suspicion of car theft, are asking how the CHP let her walk away.
"I just don't understand how she got away," said Edna Becker, the teen's adopted grandmother. "That totally mystifies me."
CHP said on early Wednesday morning officers were working on booking the teen girl into juvenile hall on suspicion of stealing a car and giving a false name when she slipped from her handcuffs and got away.
Family has identified the girl as 16-year-old Elida "Elle" Retana. Her stepmother, Marivel Neely, said officer brought the teen to their Hayward home to identify her after she gave police a false name.
"She was in shock and I was telling her in Spanish, 'What are you thinking? What are you doing? You need to turn yourself in already for the warrant that you have,'" Neely said.
CHP said officers tried to release the teen to the family, who refused to take her in.
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Neely said the teen has been a chronic runaway with outstanding warrants. The family also did not want to harbor a fugitive and felt the teen needed to face her crimes.
"We don't know what's going on inside of her mind," Becker said. "We're worried about her being on the street cause she's an attractive girl and you know bad things happen when people are out on the streets. So we're hoping they will catch her for her safety."
CHP said the teen's escape is rare and on Wednesday night would not release any details on the teen's criminal history.
