Allegheny County police chase suspect taken into custody in Florida
Hermas Craddock, 37, was free on no-cash bond that was later revoked
Hermas Craddock, 37, was free on no-cash bond that was later revoked
Hermas Craddock, 37, was free on no-cash bond that was later revoked
Hermas Craddock, 37, a man who allegedly led police in Allegheny County on a high-speed chase last week, was taken into custody in Florida Thursday.
Craddock was free on a non-monetary bond that was revoked earlier this week. Investigators said they believed he had already left Pennsylvania when the bond was revoked.
The Allegheny County Sheriff's Office said Craddock was tracked to an apartment complex in Polk County, Florida, where he was taken into custody without incident.
The sheriff of Polk County, Florida, blasted Pittsburgh District Judge Xander Orenstein for releasing the defendant on a no-cash bond.
"Let him go without posting a bond. Did you hear what I said? This guy, who the people of Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh expect to protect them and keep them safe, let a very dangerous man out into their community and he immediately fled to Florida. His mistake was he came to Polk County," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Pittsburgh's Action News 4 asked to speak with Orenstein. Court staff said the judge was not available for interviews and had no comment.
Police said Craddock led officers on a high-speed chase last week from O'Hara Township, through Aspinwall and into Pittsburgh. Speeds reached up to 80 mph in a 25 mph zone, with the fleeing vehicle running red lights and stop signs and nearly hitting two police cars.
Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin Kraus also spoke about the case Friday.
"And again, Orenstein clearly didn't consider the bail considerations when he let this person go and not only a flight risk, but more importantly, he's a danger to the community," Kraus said.
Craddock was being arraigned in Florida Friday afternoon and faces an extradition hearing there on May 1 before Allegheny County deputies can return him to Pittsburgh.
During a news conference Friday, Judd held photos of Craddock and Orenstein side by side while criticizing the judge.
"Judge Xander Orenstein is supposed to be a judge that is supposed to use fairness, compassion, look out for the community. And what did he do? He sent a very violent person among the people of Pennsylvania. And then this guy fled because he said, 'I'm not showing up for trial, they'll send me to state prison.' He should have been locked up," Judd said.
"He's a danger to the community. He's demonstrated that when he led police on a high speed chase through Sharpsburg, blowing intersections at 80 miles an hour in the community of Sharpsburg. And Orenstein, I guess it just felt like it was the right move to put him right back into the community," Kraus said.