Whitehall Man Arrested for DUI (Underage) in Baldwin

Charges for Whitehall, Baldwin Township Men

A Baldwin Borough police officer approached a motorist stopped in a driveway along the 600 block of Charlotte Drive at around 2 p.m. on Saturday for almost causing an accident near that driveway, according to a police report.

The officer reported smelling alcohol coming from the vehicle of the driver—Christopher James Laplace, 20, of Glowood Drive in Whitehall Borough—who said that he was visiting a friend on Charlotte.

Laplace, who was joined by four other people in his vehicle, later changed his story and said that he was dropping people off at the Charlotte driveway, the officer reported. But another person in the vehicle said that Laplace panicked and simply pulled into the driveway to avoid being pulled over by the officer.

Laplace was then put through field-sobriety and breath-analyzer tests, which he failed, before being arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol (underage).

All of the other occupants of Laplace's vehicle were at least 21 years old, with the exception of Thomas Murphy, 20, of Edgeridge Road in Baldwin Township.

Murphy, whom the officer reported as also smelling of alcohol, was put through a breath-analyzer test, as well, which he failed. Murphy is being charged with underage drinking. (UPDATE: Murphy's charge was eventually changed to disorderly conduct.)

Laplace was then taken to Jefferson Regional Medical Center for a blood test (results pending) before being taken home and released to the custody of his parents.

Baldwin Woman Arrested

A Baldwin Borough police officer stopped a motorist in the 5400 block of Youngridge Drive at around 5:31 p.m. on Friday for not using her vehicle's headlights, according to a police report.

When the officer asked the driver—April L. Brown, 42, of Youngridge Drive in The Residences of South Hills apartments complex—for her license, registration and insurance information, he reported that she handed him a gift card instead.

The officer returned the gift card and eventually received the woman's driver's license.

While speaking with Brown, the officer reported smelling alcohol coming from her vehicle. The officer then put her through a breath-analyzer test, which resulted in the presence of alcohol, he reported.

Due to heavy rain, Brown was taken to the Baldwin police sub-station along nearby Knoedler Road for a field-sobriety test, which she failed, before being arrested for suspicion of DUI.

She was then taken to Jefferson Regional for a blood test (results pending) before being taken home and released to the custody of her son.

Motorcycle Stolen on Cathell Road

A Baldwin Borough police officer went to a residence in the 1500 block of Cathell Road at around 8:10 a.m. on Friday for a motorcycle theft report.

The victim said that he left his 2007 blue-and-white Suzuki GSXR 750 parked at the side of his residence overnight, but it was gone the next day by 8 a.m., according to a police report.

The victim said that he last saw the motorcycle at around 9 the night before.

The incident is under investigation.

Hit-and-Run on Hazelhurst Avenue

A resident from the 3000 block of Hazelhurst Avenue reported to police at around 3:30 p.m. on Friday that he was recently a victim of a hit-and-run.

The resident said that another vehicle apparently struck his vehicle sometime between 9 the night before and 3 that afternoon while it was parked near his home, according to a police report.

Damage had been done to the right taillight and rear bumper of the victim's vehicle.

The incident is under investigation.

Carrick Man Arrested

A Baldwin Borough police officer stopped a motorist near the Madeline Street-Becks Run Road intersection on the border of Baldwin Borough and Pittsburgh's Carrick neighborhood at around 11:17 p.m. on Saturday for erratic driving, according to a police report.

The officer reported smelling alcohol coming from the vehicle of the driver—Daniel Raymond Rock, 30, of Parkfield Street in Carrick—who also admitted to recently drinking alcohol.

Rock was then put through field-sobriety and breath-analyzer tests, which he failed, before being arrested for suspicion of DUI and taken to Jefferson Regional for a blood test (results pending).

He was then taken to the Baldwin police station, where he was picked up by his brother and released.

Missing: Large Mouse, Answers to 'Mickey'

A Baldwin Borough police officer went to a home in the 5000 block of Gardenville Road at around 4:36 p.m. on Dec. 2 for a theft report. When she arrived, she learned that a light-up Mickey Mouse statue had been stolen from a resident's front yard there.

The Christmas decoration was taken sometime between 3:30 and 4 that afternoon, according to a police report.

Police are investigating the theft.

Read through other Baldwin Borough police items here.

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