By Brad Pedersen
The Leader Times
KITTANNING, Pa. — Armstrong County Jail Warden Dave Hogue has been suspended without pay as three agencies investigate the escape of inmate and suspected killer Robert Edward Crissman Jr. on July 30.
“We want to make sure there is nothing that will impede any investigations at the jail,” Prison Board Solicitor Jason Lewis said Thursday. “Not that we believe he would, but with the suspension, our belief is that people will be able to be interviewed more freely as investigations are conducted.”
The six-person board unanimously agreed to suspend Hogue after a brief executive session Thursday morning.
Hogue, 53, of Leechburg, has been the warden since 2006 and makes $53,500 annually. He declined to comment on the suspension.
Deputy Warden Matt Roofner will serve as the acting warden while Hogue is suspended.
Crissman, 38, walked out of the jail and allegedly killed Rayburn resident Tammy Long and then stole her truck before being captured the next day. He faces felony charges of criminal homicide, theft, aggravated assault and escape.
The jail’s trusty program, in which inmates like Crissman, thought to be non-violent offenders, were allowed more freedom to work at jobs on the jail grounds, has been suspended.
The county District Attorney’s Office and state police are investigating all of the personnel and policies at the jail, as well as events leading up to Crissman’s escape. Also investigating the escape is a private firm, Corporate Security and Investigations of Monaca, which was hired by the prison board at a cost not to exceed $10,000.
Corporate Security’s investigation starts Friday and is expected to take two weeks, said board President Rich Fink, who is also an Armstrong County commissioner.
“We want to make sure this investigation is done as soon as possible, because the public and this board deserve answers,” Fink said. “We wanted to have these investigations done by not only law enforcement in Armstrong County, but also by an organization outside of the county to make sure that the public has confidence and can trust this board and facility moving forward.”
About a dozen people attended the prison board meeting this morning, most of which with questions about what will be done to keep inmates from walking off again and,in case of another emergency, how nearby residents will be notified.
Kittanning resident Julia Mock said she wants to see the board beef-up security by installing fencing and barbed wire around the entire jail in Rayburn. She said she was surprised the 12-year-old jail didn’t have the fencing and barbed wire put in when it was built.
“This could have prevented him from getting out of the jail,” she said. “Most jails have this kind of fencing somewhere, but ours doesn’t.”
Sheriff Bill Rupert, a member of the prison board, said that while state correctional facilities usually have barbed wire and high fencing, most county jails do not.
“I’m not saying that it’s not an option. It’s something that can definitely be looked at,” Rupert said. “It’s a possible change.”
Worthington resident Jorn Jensen also suggested signs telling motorists not to pick up hitchhikers should be put up along Route 85 and Route 28/66 near the jail.
“I do a lot of traveling and these signs are pretty common in other areas,” Jensen said.
Fink said the board is looking at the cost of installing a warning siren, signs and other ways to let nearby residents know about incidents at the jail.
“This neighborhood has been shattered by this inmate’s escape,” said Commissioner Bob Bower. “We need to do this sooner than later.”