Man accused of dragging police officer with vehicle in 2022 arrested after refusing to attend trial

GLASSPORT, Pa. — A man was arrested after he refused to attend an aggravated assault trial, the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office said.

Alphonso Francis, 28, is accused of dragging a Whitehall police officer with a vehicle for more than 200 feet in 2022.

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Court documents say police pulled Francis over under suspicion of a DUI at 3:44 a.m. on April 30 on Route 51. A police officer tried to remove Francis from the car but he allegedly grabbed the officer and began driving for about 241 feet. The officer fell from the car and Francis continued to drive down Route 51.

Francis was arrested in March after he had been on the run for nearly a year.

According to the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Francis went to his trial, which began on Dec. 4, for the first two days, but then didn’t show up on the third day. He had also cut off his electronic monitoring bracelet.

While detectives looked for Francis, the trial continued. Francis was convicted of aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and two firearms charges.

Detectives found Francis at a house in Glassport on Dec. 12. He tried to leave through the back of the house before realizing he was surrounded, the sheriff’s office said.

Francis was taken to the Allegheny County Jail. A sentencing date has not been scheduled at this time.

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