Man Arrested Twice in Same Week on Charges of Driving While Drug Impaired

Vincent M. Corso, 34, of Forest Hills waived his right to preliminary hearings before District Judge Thomas Caulfield on Oct. 4 for charges stemming from two incidents of driving under the influence in August.

In one incident, Corso faces charges of driving under the influence (controlled substance, schedule 1, first offense), improper signals and driving at a safe speed. A fourth charge of careless driving was withdrawn.

According to a criminal complaint, the charges stem from a Aug. 19 incident when Forest Hills police were alerted by a motorist who reported Corso's truck swerved and hit the curb at Morrow's Auto on Greensburg Pike. Police saw Corso's truck exit the lot at a high rate of speed, then turn onto Chalfant Street, where he was stopped. Corso failed field sobriety tests.

He also faces charges for a second incident on Aug. 21, including driving under the influence (general impairment/incapable of driving safely, first offense), driving under the influence (controlled substance, impaired ability, first offense), disregarding traffic lanes and careless driving.

According to a criminal complaint, a Forest Hills officer heard a loud crash near the intersection of Marion Avenue and Ardmore Boulevard. Upon investigating, the officer found a truck driven by Corso had crashed into the Forest Hills arch over the boulevard, causing major damage to the truck.

The complaint stated that the officer observed a blue, powder-like substance on his lips and shirt. Corso told officers he was taking suboxone for past heroin use. He did not smell of alcohol, so he was taken to UPMC Presbyterian for a blood test.

A formal arraignment is set for 11 a.m. Nov. 20 in Common Pleas Court.

Caulfield handled other several cases in his Forest Hills courtroom last Thursday, Oct. 4, including:

• Samuel McGill, 42, of Wilkinsburg waived his right to a preliminary hearing on charges of driving under the influence (general impairment/incapable of driving safely, first offense), driving under the influence (highest rate, blood alcohol content .16+, first offense), disregarding traffic lane and careless driving. According to a criminal complaint, a Forest Hills police officer observed a car driven by McGill cross over the white lines five times along Ardmore Boulevard eastbound on June 30. After conducting a traffic stop, the officer smelled the odor of alcohol on McGill, who failed field sobriety tests. Police took McGill to Forbes Regional Hospital for a blood alcohol content test, which registered .217 percent. The legal limit is .08 percent.

• Charges of driving under the influence (general impairment/incapable of driving safely, second offense) and driving under the influence (highest rate, blood alcohol content .16+, second offense) filed by Forest Hills police against Ronnie Warren, 56, of East Pittsburgh were held for court. According to a criminal complaint, Warren failed field sobriety tests and had a .124 percent blood alcohol content after he was stopped by the East Hills DUI Task Force at a stationary checkpoint at 2040 Ardmore Blvd. on July 21.

• Charges of intentional possession of a controlled substance (heroin) by a person not registered and use/possession of drug paraphernalia filed by Swissvale police against Jodi Nicole Bailey, 38, of Swissvale were held for court. On June 27, Swissvale police found Bailey unresponsive at her home while conducting a welfare check, though she later responded to them, according to a criminal complaint. Police found 19 bags of suspected heroin, 71 empty bags, two spoons, 17 while oval pills and one syringe in her residence. Bailey was transported to UPMC Mercy hospital for treatment.