Attempted escape from prison was probably a guard's mistake | Local news

According to Warden Steve Pelesky, the preliminary report incorrectly suggested that an inmate may have tampered with a cell door by stuffing paper into the locking mechanism. However, Pelesky said they now believe that is not true and that the door was probably not checked by correctional officers, as policy requires when they report for duty.

According to prison officials, John Michael Crowe, 37, of Sewickley Township, left his cell shortly before 3 a.m. on Aug. 12 and was attacked by a prison guard, who punched him. The guard was reportedly not seriously injured in the incident.

Crowe was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and escape.

The prison administration declined to say whether prison staff were punished or suspended as a result of the escape attempt.

Pelesky said the investigation found that guards did not physically check to see if Crowe's door was properly locked and that the prison's internal security controls did not register the door as unlocked. Pelesky said the guards appeared to have violated the prison's security policies, and he does not believe changes to those policies are necessary.

“When an officer comes on duty, the first thing they should do is make sure all the doors are locked,” Pelesky said. “Officers need to go around and check, pull on the doors to make sure they are locked,” Pelesky said.

Commissioner Ted Kopas, a member of the prison board, said the blame for the incident appears to lie with the guards on duty.

“Officers should follow the rules for their own safety and the safety of the inmates,” Kopas said.