Sexual assault claim at juvenile justice facility leads to investigation, DJJ says

State police and the Department of Juvenile Justice are investigating an alleged sexual assault at a Columbia facility.

On Dec. 15, a fight broke out between female youths at the DJJ’s Midlands Evaluation Center, according to department spokesperson Jarid Munsch. The center is off Broad River Road near St. Andrews Road and houses juvenile suspects from ages 11 to 17 while they undergo psychological and other assessments for court consideration.

The alleged sexual assaulted stemmed from the fight, Munsch said.