Police say Pa. man stopped for a beer at tavern after breaking out of police holding cell

The Associated Press

BURGETTSTOWN, Pa. - Police say a western Pennsylvania man stopped at a bar and had a beer minutes after he broke out of a police station holding cell after his arrest on an assault charge.

The Washington County public defender's office on Wednesday declined to comment on the charges filed against 40-year-old Smith Township resident Timothy Bonner.

Police say they were processing Bonner, removed his handcuffs, and placed him in the cell. That's when Bonner allegedly knocked the cell door off its hinges and ran away.

After stopping at a house to borrow shoes, police say Bonner went to Richy's Bar, where a customer tells WPXI-TV (http://bit.ly/T6R6zl ) the suspect acknowledged breaking out of jail and then asked for a beer.

The customer says he bought a beer for Bonner, who didn't get to enjoy it before police arrested him.

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Information from: WPXI-TV, http://www.wpxi.com