Suspect reached 120 mph in Parkway East chase, Monroeville police say

An 18-year-old is headed to court on charges he led Monroeville police on a 120 mph chase on the Parkway East this summer after they tried to arrest him for stealing a car.

David George waived his preliminary hearing Monday morning in front of District Judge Jeffrey L. Herbst at a Monroeville magisterial court, court records show. His case is headed to Common Pleas court, where he is scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 15.

George has been in Allegheny County Jail since at least June 9, court records show. His preliminary hearing was postponed at least three time since June. His bail had been denied as he was deemed a flight risk.

Monroeville police Officer Louis Cuccaro, who was driving a marked police cruiser, heard at about 9:20 a.m. on June 8 that a person had stolen a Kia Sorrento with Pennsylvania plates the night before out of West Mifflin, according to a criminal complaint in the case. A license-plate reader picked up the Kia in North Huntingdon at 9:23 a.m.

At 10:04 a.m., Cuccaro spotted the suspect driving the Kia west on Route 376 and followed him, the complaint said. The driver — later identified as George — hit speeds of up to 120 mph as he darted around cars on the Parkway East.

George then sped off Route 376 in Churchill, driving west on William Penn Highway, the complaint said. Cuccaro ended the chase “due to the reckless driving and no regard for the public safety.” Police say George was driving up to 85 mph in the residential area.

Shortly after the chase ended, George collided with a stopped vehicle near the intersection of William Penn Highway and Graham Boulevard, the complaint said. The woman whose car he hit, who police did not name, was treated for a neck injury at Forbes Regional Hospital in Monroeville.

George attempted to flee on foot from the Kia but Cuccaro caught him, the complaint said. George told police he “took a lot of drugs” and his leg hurt. He was taken to Forbes Regional Hospital, then the county jail.

Monroeville police charged George with aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, receiving stolen property, fleeing an officer, accidents involving death or personal injury, recklessly endangering another person, evading arrest on foot, accident involving damage to an attended vehicle, DUI, disregarding a traffic lane, and exceeding the speed limit by 65 mph, court records show.

On Monday, prosecutors withdrew three of the 10 charges — aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, accidents involving death or personal injury, and DUI, court records show. The rest of the charges are headed to Common Pleas court.

The public defender’s office, which is representing George, did not return an email to county officials seeking comment.