Alright, I agree with you now, however, let's say the police officer does take the 17 yr old back, legal or not, the 17 yr old is back where he/she didn't want to be to begin with.
So? You can't always get what you want. No matter your age!

If you think we're going to advise you to run away, you're not half as ready to be on your own as you would like us to believe.