Man accused of killing New Kensington officer has history of running from police

A man wanted in the killing of New Kensington police Officer Brian Shaw has a lengthy criminal record that shows a history of drug and firearms charges as well as running from police.

Rahmael Holt, 29, of the Natrona neighborhood of Harrison, is accused of fatally shooting Shaw on Friday night on Leishman Avenue during a traffic stop that turned into a foot chase. Authorities said Holt jumped out of a Jeep that Shaw tried to pull over, ran from the officer and then shot him.

Holt was on the run as of Monday afternoon. Authorities are conducting a massive manhunt.

The driver of the Jeep, Tavon Harper, was arrested Sunday. Harper told police he'd just delivered drugs to Holt.

Holt's criminal history in Allegheny County stretches back to when he was 19.

On July 5, 2007, Holt fled from an officer who noted he was acting suspiciously near an area of Swissvale Avenue that, at the time, was experiencing a high number of break-ins, according to the criminal complaint.

He led police on a foot chase through the neighborhood, police wrote in the complaint, and one officer eventually fired a Taser.

Holt continued to struggle when officers tried to take him into custody, refusing to put his hands behind his back.

Police wrote in the complaint that it took two minutes to get Holt into handcuffs.

Holt was charged with resisting arrest, false identification and disorderly conduct.

He pleaded guilty to those charges, but served no jail time.

Later that year, he pleaded guilty to a firearms violation and received two years of probation.

On July 21, 2010, Wilkinsburg detectives spotted Holt outside Mike's Corner Deli near Franklin and Swissvale avenues. Detective Christopher Minton wrote in the complaint that he knew Holt was wanted for a probation violation, and he got out and started toward Holt.

According to the complaint, Holt took off running, and Minton gave chase. Along the way, Minton noted Holt reaching toward his waistband as if reaching for a gun.

More officers arrived from various departments, and Holt was eventually spotted sitting on the porch of a home on Franklin Avenue attempting to blend in with the neighborhood, Minton wrote. Holt spotted police again and forced his way into the home where, among others, there were two small children.

Police found Holt hiding in a back room, according to the complaint.

It took four officers to arrest Holt. He didn't have a gun, authorities said.

Holt was charged with assault, tampering with evidence, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. A burglary charge was filed but later dropped.

He was sentenced to two years of probation.

In July 2011, Holt was stopped in Pittsburgh's Homewood section when an officer spotted him walking away from a condemned home with a strong odor of marijuana coming from the area, according to the complaint.

The officer, Michael Kosko, asked Holt if he'd been smoking marijuana. Holt told police he had been smoking and gave officers permission to search him.

They found a package of crack cocaine and heroin in his pants.

Holt eventually pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to deliver and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

He was sentenced to two to four years in prison, as the charges and arrest violated the terms of his previous probation.

Megan Guza is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 412-380-8519, mguza@tribweb.com or via Twitter @meganguzaTrib.