DUI, Assault Charges Lead Last Week's District Court Docket

District Judge Thomas Caulfield heard eight cases in his Forest Hills courtroom last week in which all the defendants had either driving under the influence or assault charges pending against them.

• Erik Karasek, 31, of Smithton, PA waived his right to a preliminary hearing on charges of driving under the influence (highest rate of alcohol, blood alcohol content .16+, second offense), driving under the influence (general impairment/incapable of driving safely, second offense) and driver's license suspended or revoked. The charges were filed by Forest Hills police after Karasek was stopped at a sobriety checkpoint conducted by East Hills DUI Task Force on July 21 along Ardmore Boulevard and officers detected an odor of alcohol. His blood alcohol content was .180 percent.

• Tyron Lamont Morrison, 24, of North Braddock waived his right to a preliminary hearing on charges of simple assault and harassment after a June 22 incident on South Braddock Avenue in Swissvale. Swissvale police filed the charges.

• Robin Michelle Anderson, 24, of Duquesne waived her right to a preliminary hearing on charges of driving under the influence (general impairment/incapable of driving, first offense), driving under the influence (highest rate of alcohol, block alcohol content .16+, first offense) and driving while operating privileges suspended or revoked. Swissvale police filed the charges after police observed Anderson's vehicle on June 1 in the CoGo's parking lot on South Braddock Avenue and administered field sobriety tests, which she failed.

• Terrill Raymond Davis, 43, of Pittsburgh, 15210, waived his right to a preliminary hearing on a charge of simple assault filed by Swissvale police after an incident on Melrose Street on Feb. 7.

• Derek T. Ebbitt, 32, of Wilkinsburg was held for court on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment after an incident on Marion Avenue in Forest Hills on Sept. 6. Charges were filed by Forest Hills police.

• William T. Smith, 29, of Wilkinsburg waived his right to a preliminary hearing on charges of simple assault, harassment, criminal mischief and public drunkenness filed by Swissvale police after an incident on Aug. 24. 

• Devante A. Fleming, 20, waived his right to a preliminary hearing on charges of simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct (engaging in fighting) filed by Forest Hills police after a Sept. 3 incident on Park Ridge Place.

• Corey Orlando Thomas, 31, of Braddock waived his right to a preliminary hearing on a charge of simple assault filed by Swissvale police after an incident in the 2100 block of Monongahela Avenue on Sept. 2.