Man Faces DUI Charges After Falling Asleep at Wheel in Churchill

Tyler McGhee Stevens, 26, of Penn Township waived his right to a preliminary hearing before District Judge Thomas Caulfield on Nov. 28 on a charge of driving under the influence: general impairment/incapable of driving, first offense.

According to a criminal complaint, a passing motorist called Churchill police after seeing Stevens slumped over the steering wheel during a green light at the intersection of William Penn Highway and Rodi Road. A Wilkins Township officer responded to the call and found Stevens asleep at the wheel with the vehicle running and transmission in "drive."

When the officer attempted to wake Stevens, he attempted to step on the gas. The officer was able to reach inside the car, put it into "park" and shut off the ignition. The Wilkins officer detected the strong odor of alcohol on Stevens' breath.

Churchill police administered field sobriety tests, which Stevens failed. The results of a blood alcohol content test at Forbes Regional Hospital were not included in the complaint.

Caulfield heard three other cases in his Forest Hills courtroom last week:

• Kelly J. Johnston, 35, of McKeesport waived her right to a preliminary hearing on charges of driving under the influence (general impairment/incapable of driving safely, second offense), driving under the influence (high rate of alcohol, blood alcohol content .10 to .16, second offense), driving at a safe speed, depositing waste and other material on highway property or waters, and careless driving. According to a criminal complaint filed by Forest Hills police, an officer observed Johnston's vehicle  traveling at a high rate of speed along Ardmore Boulevard on Sept. 3. The officer also observed Johnston throw a cigarette out of the vehicle's window. After a traffic stop, the officer observed that Johnston's eyes were glazed, her speech slurred and he detected the smell of alcohol on her breath, according to the criminal complaint. Johnston told officers she was heading home from a bar. Johnston failed field sobriety tests. A breath analyzer test detected that she had a blood alcohol content of .129 percent. The legal limit is .08.

• Sherell N. Bandy, 28, of McKees Rocks was held for court on charges of driving under the influence (general impairment/incapable of driving safely, first offense), driving under the influence (highest rate of alcohol, blood alcohol content .16+, first offense), driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, careless driving and driving without rear lights. According to a criminal complaint filed by Forest Hills police, an officer was dispatched to Ardmore Boulevard westbound past the Electric Avenue on ramp for a disabled vehicle in the slow lane. The officer found the 2000 Lincoln with both right side tires flat and moderate damage to the rims. The officer detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage on Bandy's breath and observed that her eyes were glazed and bloodshot and her speech slurred. She failed field sobriety tests and a preliminary breath test detected a blood alcohol level of .191 percent.

• Delvert A. Pate, 43, of Pittsburgh, 15208, waived his right to a preliminary hearing on charges of driving with a suspended license, driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance, minimum speed regulation and careless driving. Forest Hills police were dispatched to Fairview Avenue in Chalfant for a report of a suspicious man refusing to leave a porch. By the time police arrived, the man had left in a black Nissan Altima. An officer initiated a traffic stop when he spotted the vehicle near the intersection of Rossmore and North avenues in Chalfant. Pate, who was driving the car, told police he was heading home to Wilkinsburg. The officer detected the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and noted that Pate was lethargic and had difficulty removing his seat belt. Pate failed field sobriety tests and did not submit to a breath analyzer test.

_______________________

Forest Hills-Regent Square Patch is on Facebook and on Twitter. Don't forget to sign up for our daily email newsletter by clicking here.