Phoenixville inmate caught in razor wire charged with attempted escape from Chester County Prison
West Chester, PA – A 35-year-old Phoenixville man is facing new charges after corrections officers stopped him mid-escape from Chester County Prison on Wednesday afternoon, authorities announced.
Thomas Hackett, who was being held on indecent exposure and open lewdness charges filed in June, was charged with attempted escape after climbing a prison fence and forcing his way through razor wire before reaching the roofline of the facility.
According to a criminal complaint filed by Chester County Detectives, the escape attempt happened shortly before 2:30 p.m. on September 3. A corrections officer noticed inmates pointing toward the top of a recreation yard fence, where Hackett was seen entangled in razor wire. Despite sustaining multiple cuts, Hackett managed to push through to the roofline before jumping down.
He was intercepted by a corrections officer before he could breach the next perimeter fence lined with barbed wire. Hackett was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries and later returned to Chester County Prison.
The Chester County District Attorney’s Office said detectives are continuing to investigate the incident. Hackett is scheduled for a preliminary arraignment later today on the attempted escape charge, in addition to his earlier pending charges.
Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to contact Chester County Detectives at 610-344-6866.
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Key Points
- Inmate Thomas Hackett, 35, attempted escape from Chester County Prison on Wednesday
- Hackett climbed a fence, tore through razor wire, and reached the roofline before being stopped
- He was treated for injuries and charged with attempted escape, with an arraignment set for today