PITTSBURGH, PA – Alphonso Francis, a 28-year-old man from Turtle Creek, who has been wanted since May 2022 for dragging a Whitehall Police officer during a traffic stop, has finally been taken into custody today. Detectives from the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office received information that Francis was hiding in a residence on Fairview Avenue in Turtle Creek.
Upon approaching the residence, detectives determined that Francis was located in a crawl space. They entered the crawl space, apprehended Francis, and arrested him without further incident. Francis faces charges of aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, and a firearms violation connected to the traffic stop on Clairton Boulevard. The incident had resulted in the Whitehall Police Officer being dragged more than 200 feet.
Sheriff Kevin M. Kraus commended the work of his detectives, stating, “They were engaged in a potentially dangerous situation with an individual who has a history of threatening behavior toward law enforcement and were able to make the arrest without incident.” Following the arrest, Francis was transported to the Allegheny County Jail.
