Prisoner Arrested After Using Handcuff Key To Escape From Hospital

MCKEESPORT, Pa. (AP) - The Allegheny County sheriff is investigating how a prisoner shackled to a hospital bed escaped with a deputy guarding him - only to be found about 17 hours later with a handcuff key.

Online court records don't list an attorney for 26-year-old Alexander Erb, of Glassport, who is charged with escape and other crimes.

Glassport police arrested Erb after a domestic dispute then took him to UPMC McKeesport Hospital for treatment. That's where he escaped about 1 a.m. Monday.

Chief Deputy Kevin Kraus said the sheriff's office is trying to determine how that happened.

The sheriff's deputy was there because Erb was wanted on an arrest warrant in another jurisdiction and was supposed to be transferred once he was discharged.

Erb was found in a residence in Port Vue about 5:30 p.m.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter

(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)