FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PITTSBURGH, PA – In something you’d literally have to see to believe, Sheriff’s Deputies apprehended Chad St. Clair, 36 years of age from Smithfield, PA and Matthew Comer, 36 years of age from Pittsburgh, while they attempted to abscond from the Renewal Inc. Building, via the fire-escape, on Second Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh.

While eating their lunch at the Pittsburgh Municipal Courts Building, Sgt Tom Ninehouser and Deputy Jon Monaco noticed two men descending down the back stairwell of the transitional housing building.  Deputies immediately began to give chase toward the stairwell and called out for backup, realizing the two men were attempting to escape.  After catching up to the men at the base of the stairwell, Deputy Monaco demanded to know what the individuals were doing.  St. Clair responded by stating he wanted to “go back to jail” and surrendered to deputies.  While St. Clair was complying with Deputies’ orders, Comer attempted to flee from the Municipal Courts parking lot toward Second Avenue. Unfortunately for Comer, he did not make it very far, as he was taken into custody by Monaco after a brief scuffle.

Both men had been housed at Renewal Inc. in compliance with their probation/parole.  St. Clair had pled guilty to a robbery charge earlier this year, while Comer had pled guilty to a federal firearms violation.  The two aspiring escapees were transported to the Pittsburgh Municipal Courts Building, where they are being held while new charges from today’s incident are being filed.

Deputy Monaco was taken to a medical facility, as he was injured during the scuffle.  He has since been treated and released.