Four juveniles who escaped from the KidsPeace residential center in North Whitehall Township were apprehended by state police from the Bethlehem barracks on Sunday night, but not before a trooper was injured by one of the youths.

Police said they were called there at 7:06 p.m. and located the juveniles in the area of 5074 Kernsville Road.

While attempting to speak to the youths, one of them, a 16-year-old boy, began to walk away despite being advised by the officer to stop.

Police said one of the other boys attempted to stop the boy who had walked away, which resulted in him being assaulted, after which time a 15-year-old picked up a landscaping rock and threw it at troopers.

Police said a trooper was hit in the hand and had a small laceration. Police then apprehended the 15-year-old.

While putting him in the back of the patrol car, he spit in the face of the trooper.

The juveniles were released back to the custody of KidsPeace.