Pittsburgh Police sergeant previously convicted in hit-and-run crash facing new DUI charges

PITTSBURGH — A Pittsburgh Police sergeant is now on paid leave after Plum Borough Police say he was driving drunk.

Police say they found Sgt. Tariq Jamal-Francis asleep at the wheel about a half mile away from a local bar just before midnight on November 10.

According to the criminal complaint, a patrolling officer spotted a black Dodge Durango on the side of the road near the intersection of Saltsburg and New Texas Roads.

Once he woke up, police say Jamal-Francis mumbled the words “Pittsburgh Police” and told the officer he lives “down the street.”

He also told police he’d been drinking at Shooti’s Bar and had consumed “two shots of liquor.”

Channel 11 went to Shooti’s and attempted to corroborate that statement. We asked for a manager but were told none was there and were asked to leave.

Test results on Jamal-Francis showed a blood ethanol level of .305. It’s more than three times the legal limit.

Jamal-Francis was then taken home and released to his wife.

It’s not the first time he’s faced charges like this. Four years ago, he was accused of being drunk behind the wheel and rear-ending a vehicle being driven by Channel 11 News Reporter Amy Hudak.

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She suffered injuries and he reportedly left the scene.

He was convicted and completed a program for first-time offenders.

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Pittsburgh Public Safety confirmed knowledge of the investigation, telling Channel 11:

Command staff is aware of the charges filed by Plum Borough Police against a Pittsburgh Police sergeant and they are fully cooperating with the investigation.

The sergeant has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of any legal proceedings.

We also reached out to Jamal-Francis’ attorney, Nicole Nino, and were told there would be “no comment” at this time.

He’s due back in court on December 17.

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