Penn Hills fugitive arrested, remanded to Indiana County Jail

A Penn Hills woman wanted for allegedly stealing a car from a man who offered her a place to sleep in February was arrested Sept. 18 in Wilkinsburg.

Rachelle Raye Hamilton, 32, was charged with theft of a vehicle and unauthorized used of a vehicle on May 6 by Pennsylvania State Police.

Since Feb. 28, she had been living with Ronald Harper in Indiana, Pa., according to a criminal complaint filed against her. Harper had told Hamilton she could stay at his apartment until she found a place to live.

But on March 2, Hamilton took Harper’s red Chevy Cobalt while he was at a physcial therapy appointment and never came back. She did, however, leave a note, police said.

According to the complaint, she wrote: “Ron, waited and waited and had no phone to reach you. I am late for my meeting, so I borrowed the red car. Be home shortly. I also have to pay on a fine before 5pm at the courthouse for $75.”

Harper told police he had never given her permission to use the car and he did not have any way to get in touch with her. He also didn’t know where Hamilton had gone.

A week later, on March 9, the car was found during a traffic stop in Wilkinsburg. It was being driven by Cleaties Prince, 51, of Wilkinsburg. Prince and a passenger were taken into custody, according to the complaint.

Investigating a tip provided by Prince, Wilkinsburg police knocked on a house’s door on Ross Street in Wilkinsburg. There, they met Hamilton. Police learned she had gotten the car from Harper.

She was arrested then because of an active warrant for narcotics out of Westmoreland County. But from March 9 until state police filed charges on May 6, she could not be located, said Cliff Greenfield, the public information officer for Troop A in Indiana.

Hamilton was then included in Pennsylvania State Police’s Troop A “Five Most Wanted” list on June 12.

Greenfield said she was arrested Sept. 18 and remanded to Indiana County Jail. She remains there on a $10,000 bail, according to court records.

A preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 30 before Magisterial District Judge Guy B. Haberl in Indiana, Pa.

Court records do not show an attorney representing Hamilton.