Troopers and Enfield Police are looking for a missing inmate last seen at Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield on Saturday.
According to a Department of Corrections spokesperson, 45-year-old Christopher Somsky of Westport, was on furlough to attend class. They say he left Saturday afternoon and didn’t return to the Willard-Cybulski Correctional Institution, where he was being held on a second degree robbery conviction.
Somsky was a student in the Second Chance Pell Program, according to a school spokesperson.
According to the college’s website, prisoners enrolled in the program are contained to one section of the school to study advanced manufacturing technology. A school spokesperson said there were nine inmates enrolled in the program studying advanced manufacturing.
Asnuntuck’s president, James Lombella, said there is no threat to the campus.
State Police said Somsky’s criminal history dates back to the 1990’s. However, the DOC considers him a “low-risk” offender.
According to the college’s website, the program, started by the Obama administration, aims to equip inmates with job skills necessary to become contributing members of society upon their release. Somsky wasn’t set to be released until 2022.
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“I think certainly those are good programs to have and you have to take that chance,” local resident Diana Malek said, who pointed out that another inmate escaped in Enfield last year.
The DOC said Willard-Cybulski was put under lockdown during the investigation.
"They think that they can escape and they think they won’t get caught but you know the old adage ‘you can run but you can’t hide,’” Laurie Metta of East Windsor said.
Authorities say if you see Somsky you should not approach him. If you have any information on his whereabouts you’re asked to call police at 860-534-1000.
