Crime & Safety
Venetia Woman Will Stand Trial on Charges of DUI, Fleeing from Police
Vernie Altobelli was held for court for allegedly driving drunk and fleeing from police—although another charge was dismissed.
A Venetia woman Peters police said drove on the wrong side of the road last month before fleeing from officers who attempted to initiate a traffic stop will stand trial on drunken driving and other charges.
District Judge James Ellis held Vernie Altobelli, 52, for court on two counts of driving under the influence, as well as a single count of fleeing from police—a third-degree felony.
A possession charge was dismissed, court records show.
Altobelli was charged following the alleged June 25 incident.
Peters Township police said officers had responded to the area of East McMurray Road near Center Church Road around 6 p.m. that day after the township's public works director reported a possible intoxicated driver there.
Police were told a vehicle was "all over the road being operated well below the speed limit."
As officers approached the vehicle, the driver—later identified as Altobelli, 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 officers said was sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle.
Police said she admitted to driving the vehicle.
Officers said they detected a strong odor of alcohol emanating from Altobelli, and that she argued with police and attempted 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 remains free after posting a $10,000 bond the day she was arrested.
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