FAYETTE COUNTY (KDKA) — As he was escorted to jail Tuesday night, 25-year-old David Thomas McFadden of Mt. Pleasant was smiling, but he had very little to say.

McFadden was taken into custody late Tuesday afternoon after he jumped from a counselor’s office window at the Fayette County Prison in an escape attempt that was over almost before it began.

Police said McFadden leaped from the window and landed 20 to 25 feet below on the street.

KDKA’s Ralph Iannotti reports:

Then, it was off to the races. But it was a chase that went only for a few blocks.

Several blocks from the prison, McFadden ran into a parking garage where he took off his prison uniform and emerged from the structure wearing only his underwear, socks and shoes.

McFadden was taken into custody by a prison official. He had to be maced first after he refused to comply with orders to lie on the ground. He was then handcuffed and later decontaminated.

Lt. Kolencik told KDKA-TV that McFadden told police he broke out of lockup because he wanted to see his kids.

“This is definitely not a normal practice. They do a good job at the prison, 120-year-old prison, they do a good job for as packed as it is,” said Lt. Kolencik. “Things like that are just going to happen. Thank God for the witnesses, appreciate their help. They did a good job, everybody did.”

Besides the burglary and drug charges he was picked up on just 24 hours earlier, he now faces new charges of escape, criminal mischief and flight to avoid apprehension.

He’s in jail on $30,000 straight cash bail.

KDKA’s Ross Guidotti reports:

RELATED LINKS
More News
More Local News