A teenage detainee of a youth treatment facility managed to avoid capture — but not for long — after escaping from authorities in Butler.

The boy's time on the lam ended Thursday when Butler police say they nabbed him hiding in the basement of a home in the city's Island neighborhood.

The boy, who police did not identify, was in the custody of George Junior Republic staff about 12:35 p.m. when he got away in the area of the Marathon gas station on South Main Street, authorities said.

He was being transported to the Butler County courthouse for an unknown court hearing at the time.

George Junior is a detention center in Springfield Township, Mercer County, for court adjudicated delinquent and dependent youth.

Police were notified and began looking for the young escapee. County sheriff's deputies and probation officers assisted.

Police eventually showed up at a home on the 400 block of Negley Avenue, authorities said, where the boy was reportedly seen entering through the back door.

He apparently knew the people at the home, police said.

Officers found him in the basement and he was arrested without incident by 2:15 p.m. He was turned over to Butler County juvenile probation officers.

Police said the boy will be charged with escape in juvenile court. He remains in custody of Butler County juvenile probation authorities while being held at an undisclosed secured facility.