Man wanted on several warrants arrested day after trying to run down officer

CLAIRTON, Pa. — A man who allegedly tried to run down a police officer in Clairton Monday has been arrested.

Leland Jones, 23, of Clairton, had been one of the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office's "Most Wanted" fugitives for firearms violations. He was captured Tuesday.

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In April 2014, Jones was arrested for allegedly possessing a firearm without a license, possessing a stolen firearm and drug charges, according to police. In March 2015, a warrant was issued for his arrest after Jones failed to appear at trial.

Jones was also wanted for failing to appear in court after being charged with fleeing and eluding police and several motor vehicle violations, authorities said.

At the time of Jones' arrest Tuesday, he was wanted on three warrants.

On Monday, an officer directing traffic attempted to have Jones pulled over, but he allegedly accelerated toward the officer and nearly hit him, prompting a chase, police said. He later fled on foot and was not found until Tuesday at an apartment on St. Clair Avenue.

Authorities said Jones jumped onto a first-floor roof from a second-floor window. Police chased him and used a Taser when he continued to resist arrest.

“They approached the residence and he immediately dropped the 9mm semi-automatic pistol,” said Deputy Kevin Kraus of the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office. “He was eventually tasered.”

Jones is charged with aggravated assault, flight to avoid apprehension, fleeing and eluding a police officer and recklessly endangering another person for Monday’s incident.

He will face additional charges stemming from his arrest Tuesday after he was found to be in possession of another firearm, approximately 300 stamp bags of suspected heroin, a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, police said.

In May, WPXI featured some of the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office's "Most Wanted" during Channel 11’s Fugitive Takedown Day. Click on the links to the left of this story to see which fugitives have since been captured, and who authorities are still looking for.

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