Man charged in shooting, escape
SAXONBURG — It may not have been a great escape, but it was a pretty good one.
A borough man accused of firing a shotgun Saturday across Butler Road with neighbors nearby later allegedly broke out of the holding cell at the Saxonburg police station.
By hand, according to police, Thomas M. Flack Jr., 47, broke the door handle and lock to make his short-lived flight to freedom.
“That probably took a lot of strength,” Saxonburg police Chief Joe Beachem admitted Monday.
What's more, the detainee's hands were in cuffs in front of him and he was wearing a transport belt.
Flack was subsequently taken to Butler County Prison on charges in the alleged shooting and the suspected jail break, and later released after posting $50,000 bail.
Police were called shortly before 8:30 p.m. Saturday for a report of arguing and gunfire on the 300 block of Butler Road where the defendant lives.
Witnesses told police that Flack was the person they heard arguing. They then heard a gunshot.
“They further advised that Flack was approximately 20 to 30 yards from them,” court documents said, “when he discharged the firearm.”
The suspect, according to witness accounts, was firing a double-barrel shotgun at another male, possibly a juvenile, who ran into woods nearby.
Beachem acknowledged that police still have not positively identified that male.
Along with the long gun, police said, Flack was reportedly armed with a revolver.
Police spoke to the defendant at his house, documents said. He admitted that he had been drinking, and Beachem said he appeared to be “severely intoxicated.”
At the home, officers also found a double-barrel shotgun with one spent shell in the left barrel and a .357-caliber revolver loaded with six live rounds.
Police said Flack subsequently admitted he fired the shotgun toward Butler Road, documents said, in an attempt to shoot a groundhog.
He eventually was placed in the holding cell at the police station. But the cell apparently couldn't hold him.
“He grabbed the handle from inside,” Beachem said in recounting Flack's getaway, “and broke the handle and locking mechanism for the cell door.”
Flack, still wearing handcuffs, made it out the garage door and about 30 feet, before he was recaptured in the parking lot. He apparently was waiting for police to get him.
“He stated that he was wondering if we were going to find him,” police said in their complaint against him.
District Judge Bill O'Donnell arraigned Flack on misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment, propulsion of missiles onto the road, escape and disorderly conduct. He also is charged with public drunkenness, a summary offense.
Online documents did not indicate if he has an attorney and he could not be reached for comment.
The Saxonburg police holding cell, meanwhile, remains out of service for the time being. It was not immediately known when repairs would be made and how much they would cost.
