Bicycler Accused of DUI Headed to Trial

An Upper St. Clair man accused of driving under the influence of alcohol while riding a bicycle on Route 19 in last year was held for trial on that and other charges Monday.

District Judge Valarie Costanzo held John Anthony Pardini, 44, for trial on charges of DUI (third offense), public drunkenness, resisting arrest, possession of a small amount of marijuana, use of drug paraphernalia and a traffic violation, a clerk confirmed.

Online court records indicate the charges stem from an Aug. 6, 2011 incident.

Pardini, of Monterey Drive, Upper St. Clair, when an officer spotted him riding a bike in circles on Washington Road just before 11:30 p.m. The charges were refilled last month by .

Peters police stated in a criminal complaint that there were no lights on the bicycle and that it appeared the rider was having a hard time keeping balance.

The officer stated Pardini, who is the son of the Upper St. Clair police chief, was carrying a cold, six-pack of beer while riding the bike and that two bottles were missing.

After Pardini failed field sobriety tests, the officer told him he was going to be arrested for DUI. 

Pardini yelled an obscenity, tried to run across Washington Road and that's when the officer deployed a taser to bring Pardini to a halt in the center turn lane, according to the complaint.

The officer stated a second taser discharge was required during handcuffing.

During the arrest the officer stated that a small amount of marijuana and a metal pipe fell from Pardini's pocket.

Pardini's blood alcohol content was at .097 percent. The legal level of alcohol in Pennsylvania is .08 percent.