Serial Prison Escapee Diagnosed With Restless Leg Syndrome; Lawyer Asks For Leniency
Â Four-time prison escapee Robert Tuck, nicknamed âHoppinâ Rob,â was diagnosed by prison doctors with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) after a fifth prison escape attempt proved futile.Currently housed at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Stillwater, Tuck was captured near the main entrance by prison guards, who observed suspicious movements exhibited by the inmate near the facilityâs main security fence.âHe was jumping up and down by the main gate,â said Alan Trimble, Director of Security at Stillwater.Â  âAt first I thought he was having a kind of seizure or throwing a fit, so I called the prison doctor right away to come take a look at him.ââIt was during our outdoor exercise period and I thought I could get away with it just this once more,â remarked Tuck from the prison infirmary.Â  âI had the opportunity so I thought Iâd go for it, but now they got me all chained up here to a bed, even though the doc says itâs not good for me with the condition they told me I have.âAs it turned out, prison medical staff discovered Tuck was suffering from more than just a compulsion to escape confinement; he was diagnosed with RLS, a condition the National Institutes of Health describes as âa nervous system disorder marked by unpleasant sensations affecting the legs.âÂ  Symptoms of RLS include spontaneous leg movements, occasional cramping and a constant urge to get up and move around.âI always thought it was maybe something medical,â said Tuck, âbecause ever since I was a kid, what I did was to steal things and run away a lot, which is got me in trouble in the first place.âTuckâs attorney, Charles Burbridge, is currently examining whether a defense of âRLS Impairment Disorderâ can be mounted, with the hope that Tuck, currently serving 5 â 7 years for burglary, would be eligible to receive a reduced sentence and possible transfer to a supervised medical facility.âIf my client could be treated fairly and like a free-range inmate,â explained Burbridge, âhe would be able to walk the yard a few more hours a day as part of his therapy.Â  I believe this will reduce his impulse to escape, and make him a better person in the long run.âFor the time being, Tuck remains confined to his infirmary bed and is reportedly in good spirits.Â  âI have high hopes,â said Tuck, while giving the âthumbs upâ gesture despite his handcuffs.