Dearborn Heights Police Search for 13-Year-Old Tamaia Jones After Second Runaway Incident in Recent Weeks from Vista Maria Facility, Raising Serious Concerns Over Security and Ongoing Investigations
DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. — For the second time in recent weeks, Dearborn Heights police are searching for a runaway teen from Vista Maria, a facility that provides care for at-risk youth. This time, 13-year-old Tamaia Jones went missing earlier this week and has not been heard from since Tuesday, after she escaped during a transfer from another facility.
According to officials, Jones was being transported when she jumped out of the transport vehicle as it came to a stop. The escape occurred near Vista Maria, located on Warren Avenue and Evergreen. The facility has been in the spotlight due to a previous incident just last month, when a 16-year-old girl, a survivor of sex trafficking, fled the same facility. She was found earlier this week in the company of a 62-year-old man.
Local residents, like Ahmad Sharif, who operates a car dealership across from Vista Maria, have witnessed several escape attempts. Sharif noted that law enforcement officers quickly responded when youths attempted to flee, often catching them right away.
“Cops would just roll up in here, and they would go down there and track them down,” Sharif said. “A couple of times they got tackled over here. They just don’t want to come back.”
Vista Maria officials confirmed the details surrounding Jones’ disappearance, explaining that she had been transferred from another facility when she managed to escape from the transport vehicle. The facility’s management has faced increasing scrutiny following these incidents, with questions raised about its ability to keep its residents safe.
Dearborn Heights Police Chief Ahmed Haidar addressed the ongoing issues, stating that multiple investigations are still active at Vista Maria. “We do have several ongoing investigations there,” Haidar said. “The 16-year-old is part of one of them, but there are several other juveniles who we have investigations ongoing involving staff members.”
Vista Maria responded to the criticism by reiterating that the safety of the youth under its care is its highest priority. However, the frequency of escape attempts and the involvement of local law enforcement have raised serious concerns about the facility’s security protocols and the well-being of the children it serves.
As authorities continue to search for Tamaia Jones, the situation has drawn attention to the broader issues at Vista Maria. The facility’s challenges in maintaining security and protecting vulnerable youth have sparked widespread discussions about the effectiveness of institutions tasked with caring for at-risk minors.
The ongoing investigations into the facility and its practices continue to unfold, and as the search for Jones continues, the community and law enforcement remain hopeful for her safe return.
