Crime & Safety
Venetia Woman Jailed for DUI, Eluding Officers
A Venetia woman was jailed Tuesday after police said she fled from officers who were attempting to pull her over.
Peters Township police said officers responded to the area of East McMurray Road near Center Church Road around 6 p.m. Tuesday after the township's public works director reported a possible intoxicated driver there.
The director, Pete Overcashier, told police he was following a black vehicle that was "all over the road being operated well below the speed limit."
As officers approached the vehicle, the driver—later identified as Vernie Altobelli, 52—crossed into the opposite lane of traffic.
An officer indicated that "he had to make evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision because (her) vehicle had crossed into the westbound lane."
Although officers activated their overhead lights as well as their sirens, Altobelli accelerated and continued to drive away from the squad cars, according to court documents.
Police said that while officers lost sight of the car in the 500 block of Valleybrook Road, they responded to the residence associated with the vehicle registration.
When police arrived at 113 Brooke Drive, officers made contact with Altobelli, who was sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle.
Police said the woman admitted to driving the vehicle.
Officers said they detected a strong odor of alcohol emanating from Altobelli, and that she argued with police—even attempting to enter her residence.
That's when she was placed in handcuffs and advised that she was under arrest because officers suspected she had been driving under the influence.
Altobelli was then taken to Canonsburg General Hospital for a blood draw.
Police discovered that she had several pills in a plastic container for which she could not produce a prescription, according to the criminal complaint.
She was charged with a felony count of fleeing or attempting to elude police, as well as driving under the influence, driving under the influence of a combination of alcohol and controlled substances, and possession of a controlled substance.
Altobelli was arraigned Tuesday before district Judge James Ellis and was remanded to the Washington County Jail after being unable to post a $10,000 bond.
She is scheduled to appear before Ellis at 2 p.m. July 2 or a preliminary hearing on the charges.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.