Police: Suspect tried to break into the jail
A Butler man is accused of an unusual attempted jailbreak.
City police say 37-year-old Brian J. Vlassich tried to break into — that’s right, into — the Butler County Prison.
His initial effort Feb. 2 failed. But hours later, Vlassich apparently got his strange wish.
Police arrested him that night after a crime spree during which he allegedly attempted to carjack two people and tried to force his way onto a school bus before he managed to steal a vehicle.
Since then, Vlassich has been in the county prison on $100,000 bail. His bail increased by $5,000 on the latest charges.
Police said they were called about 1:35 a.m. Feb. 2 for a report of a man trying to bust into the front doors at the prison on South Washington Street.
Prison officers told police that the man, later identified as Vlassich, first pounded on the glass doors before he grabbed a large bag of road salt and heaved it at the glass, according to court documents.
When that failed, police said, he left momentarily but returned with a large, standing metallic ashtray, which he also threw into the glass.
Police allege Vlassich was trying to break in before he walked away, leaving behind damage estimated at under $500.
