Penn Hills man who fled police returned from Florida

A Verona man who led police on a high-speed chase before fleeing the state in April has been returned to Allegheny County, according to the county sheriff.

Hermas U. Craddock, 37, of Penn Hills traveled first to North Carolina and then Florida according to police, where he was arrested April 26. Craddock was tracked to a townhouse complex in Polk County, Fla., where he was identified through surveillance footage, according to the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office.

During the April 10 chase, troopers said Craddock nearly rammed his vehicle into two patrol cars. Police also said Craddock was seen throwing a gun out the window of the Jeep Wagoneer he was driving.

According to court records, he was released without bail after a preliminary arraignment April 10 before District Judge Xander Orenstein.

In late April, Orenstein was barred by Allegheny County court administrators from overseeing the stage in court proceedings when bail is first set for criminal defendants.

Orenstein has been the subject of similar criticism relating to earlier bail decisions. Last year, Orenstein released a New York man accused of bringing $1.6 million of fentanyl into Pittsburgh. That man also fled the Pittsburgh region.

Craddock was processed into the Allegheny County Jail to await a preliminary hearing on the pursuit charges and the non-jury trial on an unrelated gun charge. He faces seven felony charges including fleeing from police, assault of a law enforcement officer, and more than 60 charges total stemming from the pursuit.

That hearing is set for May 22 in District Judge Matthew Rudzki’s Sharpsburg court.