Wheeling Police Arrest Fugitive Wanted for Murder

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On Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, WPD officers acting on a tip, located a subject wanted for murder in Cherokee County, South Carolina. 

Around 4 p.m. Tuesday, Wheeling Police received a call from a detective in South Carolina.  The detective provided information that a murder suspect may be in the East Wheeling area and provided the nickname of a subject with whom he may have been in the company.  

WPD officers recognized the “nickname” and knew this subject frequented homeless encampments in the 18th Street area.  They began searching for the wanted subject and located him near 18th and Eoff streets, where he was taken into custody without incident by several Wheeling Police officers.

Arrested was Leanard Herbert Finch, age 31, of Gaffney, South Carolina.  Finch was processed and transported to the Northern Regional Jail charged with being a Fugitive from Justice, where he will await extradition proceedings.

Questions related to the homicide will be referred to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina. 

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