On October 18, 2012, at approximately 5:56am, Franklin County Deputy Jeremey Copas attempted to stop a vehicle for a minor traffic violation on the eastside of Franklin County . A pursuit ensued which lasted several minutes through many jurisdictions. The pursuit entered into the city of Whitehall with Whitehall police units joining in the chase. Sgt. Dennis Allen observed the suspect vehicle pulling into a local Arby’s Restaurant driveway and maneuvered his cruiser to cut off the escape route of the vehicle through the rear area of the parking lot. He seized an opportunity to use the front of his cruiser in striking the suspect vehicle causing it to spin out. This maneuver is known as a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT Maneuver) and by conducting it, he was able to bring this chase to a quick end. The suspect attempted to flee on foot and after a short struggle with officers was taken into custody. It was determined that the female passenger inside the vehicle was being held against her will and was raped minutes earlier before the chase started. The suspect was a career criminal with a lengthy and extensive violent criminal history. He had active felony warrants and was wanted for missing a parole hearing. Due to the actions of Sgt. Dennis Allen, this suspect is right where he needs to be, behind bars and awaiting numerous new charges from a Franklin County Grand Jury.
We are honored to be naming Sgt. Dennis Allen of the Whitehall Division of Police our Officer of the Month for November 2012.