The controversy surrounding the non-monetary decisions of magisterial judge Xander Orenstein in the Pittsburgh area is getting national attention.
37-year-old Hermas Craddock was arrested Thursday evening in Polk County, Florida.
He was released earlier this week on non-monetary bail by Orenstein after Craddock was arrested after a high-speed chase on Route 28.
He was out on $25,000 on a gun charge at the time of the chase.
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Tracked to an apartment complex in Polk County, where he was arrested by sheriff’s deputies.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd took exception to Orenstein’s decision, blasting the judge during a news conference Friday.
“Judge Xander Orenstein is supposed to be a judge that’s supposed to use fairness, compassion, look out for the community and what did (they) do?” asked Judd. “(They) sent a very violent person among the people of Pennsylvania and then (Craddock) fled because he goes, I’m not showing up for trial because they’ll send me to state prison.”
“You don’t have a qualified judge here, you have a nut with a coat on,” added Judd.
Judd said that they had to waste money and risk officers’ lives to apprehend Craddock and now Pennsylvania has to spend more money to extradite him back to the state.
“(They are) reckless and the people of Pittsburgh ought to say ‘nuh uh we don’t want the likes of this dude who lets violent criminals out,” said Judd.
“If you want to see a total failure of a judge, here’s a picture,” Judd said holding a photo of Orenstein up.