A 15-year-old boy escaped from police custody on the West Side, apparently after banging and breaking his handcuffs while at a station.



The teen was being held at the 11th District police station at Harrison Street and Kedzie Avenue on the West Side when he escaped around 5 p.m. Thursday.



"He was banging the handcuffs on the bench and it broke off,'' said Harrison District Police Lt. John Andrews. "The handcuffs malfunctioned.''



The teen was not being held in the district's lockup at the time, but someone was supposed to be watching him and wasn't, the lieutenant said.



The teen had been arrested about 2:40 p.m. Thursday in the 4400 block of West Maypole Avenue on a warrant for possession of controlled substance, according to Andrews.



Authorities were still seeking the teen this moring, and have contacted his high school to see if he showed up for classes today.