Defendant tries to escape
A West Sunbury man faces new criminal charges thanks to the way he reacted to a plea offer for a prior offense.
Bryan Lee Conner, 26, caused a commotion in the Butler County Government Center Wednesday morning when he allegedly punched out a window in a door to the jury assembly room.
“He didn't want to go to jail,” Sheriff Mike Slupe said.
However, that's where he wound up after deputies caught him trying to run out of the building.
Slupe said Conner was apparently angered by a plea offer from the county district attorney's office during a pretrial conference in the jury assembly room on the fourth floor.
Authorities could not confirm which case was being discussed or the terms of the offer.
At some point, Conner left the room and allegedly punched out the window.
The 10:47 a.m. incident was captured by a security camera and eyewitnesses.
Melissa Davis of Butler was in the hallway when the glass shattered.
“I'm all shook up,” she said.
Davis saw the man identified as Conner coming out of the room when he struck the window in the right door cursing about the terms of the offer.
Conner then fled down the nearest stairwell.
“He went and hid in the bathroom,” Slupe said.
He said Conner took off his button shirt, putting it behind the commode in the second floor men's room. His hat was stashed in the garbage can under paper towels.
“The guy tried to change his appearance,” Slupe said.
However, deputies were stationed throughout in the building and at every exit.Slupe said Conner tried to exit the side employee entrance along Diamond Street, but the deputy manning that spot as part of a daily routine blocked the escape.“The subsequent apprehension was textbook,” Slupe said.Conner then allegedly lied about his identity as a last-ditch attempt to escape.Slupe commended his deputies for the quick arrest.“I'm very proud of the deputies' actions and reaction and to this incident,” he said.Slupe said Conner was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital to ensure his hand was not broken from hitting the window.Conner is charged with institutional vandalism, terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person, false identification to law enforcement and disorderly conduct.Slupe said Conner threatened the deputies who took him into custody and endangered people in the fourth floor hallway when the glass was shattered.According to Slupe, Conner also is liable for restitution, which is an estimated $300.Following the arrest, county maintenance workers replaced the broken window.Conner is jailed in Butler County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bond. His preliminary hearing is set for Monday before District Judge Pete Shaffer.
