Stay at prison quiet problem
The man who escaped from jail in Armstrong County and allegedly killed a woman while on the lam is living incident-free at the Butler County Prison.
Robert E. Crissman on July 30 walked out of an unlocked door at the Armstrong County Jail. While out of the jail, he allegedly fled to the home of Tammy Long and strangled and beat her to death before being caught several hours later.
After being caught, he was sent to the Butler County Prison.
“We’ve had no issues with him,” said Warden Joe DeMore at Tuesday’s prison board meeting.
DeMore said Crissman is under tight security restrictions. When he is out of his cell, two corrections officers accompany him at all times.
DeMore said Crissman’s presence has not required any staffing increases.
He said Crissman has requested to be moved from secure housing. DeMore said Crissman’s secure status will be reviewed weekly.
“He’s not going to move for a while,” DeMore said.
County Commissioner Jim Eckstein, who is on the prison board, praised the way DeMore is handling Crissman.
At Armstrong, Crissman had trustee status and escaped while delivering meals to inmates as part of a work release program.
Earlier this month, DeMore added an extra guard for inmates on outdoor work details. Before that, there only was one guard for outdoor work. Eckstein praised this move as well.
Crissman — whose criminal history includes multiple counts of theft, trespassing, drug possession and driving under the influence of alcohol — now is charged with homicide, escaping prison, aggravated assault of a police officer, and theft of a gun and two trucks.
