State Trooper Ralph Finchley[1] is a fictional character in the ABC daytime drama General Hospital.
He has been played by Tatum Shank on a recurring basis[2] starting on January 12, 2021 and he returned on January 28, February 15 and 18, and May 24-26, and August 26, 2021.
Storylines
On January 12, 2021, a hiker named Eddie drives Sonny to the Pennsylvania Clinic after finding him injured in the snow.
In Eddie’s car, Sonny notices a Saint Christopher medal (he had one of his own). Eddie says his grandmother gave it to him. Sonny has a feeling he is missing something. Eddie speeds up and a police siren turns on behind him.
Eddie explains to Finchley that he is taking Sonny to the hospital. Finchley doesn’t want to hear it and asks for license and registration. He says the paperwork checks out but he is still giving Eddie a ticket for speeding. He notices Sonny and wonders if he knows him.
Finchley questions why Eddie was speeding. Eddie explains that he found Sonny hurt and was taking him to the hospital. Sonny tells Eddie it is fine and they should get out of the car with their hands up.
Finchley asks what a city guy is doing in the woods. Eddie tries to answer but Finchley clarifies that he is talking to Sonny and he also asks about the bandana. Sonny says he is lost. He doesn’t have a wallet or ID. Eddie helped him out. Sonny asks Finchley where he is. Finchley finds it hard to believe Sonny doesn’t know. Sonny repeats himself. Finchley says he will get Sonny to the ER himself.
Back in Eddie’s car, Eddie tells Sonny he is impressed with how Sonny convinced Finchley to help them. Sonny says it just came to him as he touches at the Saint Christopher medal.
On January 28, Finchley comes into the Tan-O bar with "Mike" (the name Sonny is using). He explains to the owner Lenny Caulfield and his wife Phyllis that "Mike" was trying to get a job at the hardware store and wouldn’t leave when he was told they weren’t hiring.
"Mike" explained that he met Finchley before on the same night the hiker Eddie found him in the woods. Finchley says that "Mike" didn’t remember who he was and then he realized that "Mike" must be one of Phyllis’ strays. Phyllis vouches for "Mike" and says she will explain what happened to the hardware store owner Mr. Harper. Finchley tells her to be careful who she trusts and then he leaves.
On February 15, Finchley returns to The Tan-O to talk to "Mike". Lenny tells Finchley that Phyllis is out of town when Finchley asks. Finchley says that Harper’s Hardware store had to close down. It wasn’t the only store robbed recently and Finchley wonders if Phyllis’ stray was responsible.
Lenny defends "Mike" despite the short time he has known him. Finchley hears that "Mike" is taking meds and asks where he was last night. Lenny jokes about "Mike" being a criminal mastermind and working for the mob. "Mike" says he was at the bar last night and that arresting him would let the real thief get away.
Finchley says he has a gut feeling and he should have taken "Mike’s" prints when he first brought him into the station. Then he would know who "Mike" really is. Finchley asks "Mike" for a cup of coffee. While "Mike" goes to get some, Finchley carefully takes "Mike’s" mug of coffee to get his fingerprints.
On February 18, Finchley wants to know where "Mike" was after there is a break-in at The Tan-O and the bar is trashed. "Mike" explains that he was taking a drunk patron home and locked the place before he left. Finchley says he is suspicious of "Mike" as the robberies started after he arrived in town. Finchley admits he ran "Mike’s" prints but they couldn’t get any clear prints. "Mike" turns down another offer to be fingerprinted and Finchley says it is also suspicious to not want to be fingerprinted. "Mike" says Finchley can check his room at the bar if he wants. Finchley does and later says it was clean but warns he is keeping his eye on "Mike" as he leaves.
On May 24, Finchley enters The Tan-O and tells "Mike" he needs to speak to him about the break-in at Elijah’s building. "Mike" claims he was at The Tan-O but Lenny says he can’t remember. Finchley leaves after Lenny breaks a hydrant to distract him.
On May 26, Finchley arrives at the park after Elijah attacks Nina and "Mike" hits Elijah with a log in the leg. Elijah is arrested but Finchley has no proof "Mike" or Nina did anything wrong. He reluctantly lets them go but he wants them to come down to the station for a statement the next day.
On August 26, Finchley comes into the Tan-O to offer his condolences to Phyllis as Lenny recently died. Phyllis introduces Finchley to Nina’s friend Peter Sinclair. Finchley says he knows who Peter is. Peter says he hasn’t met Finchley. Phyllis explains that Peter is new to town. Nina hints that Peter is a fugitive and says they knew each other in Port Charles. Peter mentions other towns that he knows Nina from as he prepares to pull out a gun which is tucked into the back of his pants. Phyllis thanks Finchley for coming and he leaves.
Ran Mike's fingerprints without his consent using the mug he stole from the Tan-O in a failed attempt to identify him [Feb 2021; revealed Feb 18, 2021]
