An Allegheny County man is recovering in the trauma unit of a Pittsburgh hospital after injuring himself Friday in the Butler County Prison.

Jason Michael Koskey, 27, of Sharpsburg was listed in stable condition at Allegheny General Hospital Tuesday afternoon.

Warden Rich Gigliotti said in an interview Tuesday it's unclear what happened to Koskey as he was the only inmate in the cell.

"It's conjecture," Gigliotti said.

Gigliotti said Koskey called for help about 7:30 p.m., using the intercom system buzzer in his cell.

When the correction officer manning that pod arrived, Koskey was holding a towel on a gash over his right eye.

Along with a bruised right arm, Koskey also had red marks around his neck. His bed sheet was partially torn.

Gigliotti said Koskey initially stated he fell leading to the injuries before claiming later the incident was a failed suicide attempt.

"His statements were conflicting," Gigliotti said. "We don't know."

While a reddened neck and torn bed sheet could indicate a suicide attempt, Gigliotti said Koskey's subsequent actions don't gibe.

"He's the one who rang the buzzer," Gigliotti said about Koskey calling for help.

Gigliotti said the other inconsistency is that there isn't a place to hang the bed sheet from in the cell.

There are no pipes in prison cells nor any bars. The doors are solid.

Gigliotti said a faked suicide attempt to be hospitalized couldn't be ruled out.

"Did he manipulate the system?" he asked.

Because the gash required stitches, Koskey was sent to Butler Memorial Hospital.

Gigliotti doesn't know why Koskey was subsequently transferred to Allegheny General.

Gigliotti said the new prison on South Washington Street, which replaced the old Vogely Street building, enables a quicker response to such situations.

In addition to intercom buzzers being in every cell, there is a correction officer in each pod.

"You have an immediate response," Gigliotti said.

While healing from his wounds, Koskey also faces felony charges.

Earlier in the day, suspected crack cocaine was found under his cell bunk around 4:30 p.m.

Gigliotti said the prison was tipped off that Koskey somehow smuggled drugs inside.

County Detective Pat Cannon said Koskey admitted swallowing the rock before he was arrested Aug. 25.

"It was ingested," Cannon said. "He retrieved it."

Just as prison officials are unsure exactly what Koskey did in the cell leading to his injuries, Cannon doesn't know what the inmate intended to do with the cocaine.

"The only way to do crack cocaine is smoke that," Cannon said. "You can't snort it."

Cannon said Koskey faces felony charges for bringing a controlled substance into a prison and having it in his possession while incarcerated.

"They're serious charges," he said.

Cranberry Township police on Aug. 25 charged Koskey with two felony counts each of theft and receiving stolen property as well as a misdemeanor count each of theft and receiving stolen property.

He allegedly stole a diamond ring and gold earrings worth a total of $7,500; a digital camera; and two checks from a Cranberry Township home.

Koskey's girlfriend was the family's cleaning lady. She was not charged in that case.

Allegheny County Court records indicate Koskey has convictions in 12 separate cases, including theft, simple assault and drug trafficking, since 2002.