Police: Man Charged After Telling Woman 'He Had Women Chained' In Basement, Prompting Her To Jump Through Window
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Pittsburgh Police are investigating after a woman says she dove through the window of a home on Pittsburgh's South Side overnight because a man who lived there told her "he had women chained" in the basement.
Shattered glass still covered the sidewalk Friday afternoon outside the home on 16th Street. It all started around midnight when the woman flagged down three officers.
According to the criminal complaint, the woman was inside the house with three men when she spotted padlocks on the doors. When she asked about them, one of the men - now identified as 34-year-old Robert Abbott - told her "he had women chained to the bed in the basement."
Police say the woman, fearing for her safety, wanted to make a quick exit.
She ran from the second floor, down the stairs and tried to open the front door. However, police said it was deadbolted shut.
Police say the woman "was in such fear" that she jumped out of the first-story window to the sidewalk below.
"She attempted to run from the house," Pittsburgh Police Cmdr. Mike Pilyih said. "She ran down the steps and couldn't get out the front door, and then actually dove through the window down to the sidewalk."
The woman had some injuries to her head and face. She was taken to a local hospital in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery.
"It's definitely shocking, wouldn't expect anything like this to happen next door," said Sam Reihs, the next-door neighbor.
Watch Lynne Hayes-Freeland's report --
Reihs said he didn't hear anything, and said he just moved into the neighborhood a few weeks ago.
"I haven't observed anything out of the ordinary," said Reihs. "It seemed like a few people live there to my knowledge, but [I] hadn't interacted with them."
After the incident, KDKA's cameras rolled as officers interviewed Abbott while sat on the curb handcuffed.
He is now facing a long list of criminal charges, including with possession, possession with intent to deliver and recklessly endangering another person.
Police say Abbott gave police consent to search the home. According to investigators, they found the padlocks and drugs, including stamped bags and pills, as well as drug paraphernalia like needles and a crack pipe.
No one answered the door at the home late Friday morning.
