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Captured jail escapee now coming to Butler prison

Crissman

RAYBURN TWP, Armstrong County — The man who escaped Armstrong County Jail and allegedly strangling and beating a woman to death is to be placed in the Butler County Prison today.

Robert Crissman, 38, of Templeton is charged with homicide, escaping prison, aggravated assault of a police officer, and theft of a gun and two trucks, according to Scott Andreassi, Armstrong County District Attorney.

“We didn’t think it was appropriate to take him back to that facility,” Andreassi said of the Armstrong jail.

Crissman was arrested about 26 hours after he escaped from jail in Boggs Township following a 5 to 10-mile police chase across three county roads, Andreassi said.

Crissman lost control of the stolen truck he was driving about 8:40 a.m. after he rammed into the back of a police cruiser involved in the pursuit.

Andreassi said authorities were dispatched to the area of Mosgrove Road in Boggs Township after the Armstrong County 911 center received a call from a resident who believed Crissman was at her door.

The woman told Crissman to wait a minute, locked her door, then called 911.

The caller, who had two young children in her home, remained on the line with dispatchers as Crissman continued to knock on her door. After a few minutes he stole the woman’s truck that was parked in the driveway and fled the scene.

“I want to thank the public — the information they provided was invaluable,” Andreassi said.

Crissman is charged with killing 55-year-old Tammy Long, whose body was discovered in the bathroom of her home on Rayburn Road off Route 85 east of Kittanning.

Andreassi said Crissman knew Long and her boyfriend Jerry Slagle.

Officials said Crissman, who was in jail for violating probation on a drug charge, was trusted by staff.

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