Police stop driver at gunpoint after hit-and-run in New Kensington

An Arnold man was arrested at gunpoint Sunday after police said he hit a parked vehicle and led them on a brief pursuit while driving a pickup with one tire completely blown off.

New Kensington police charged Raymond G. Slater, 25, of the 1600 block of Woodmont Street with fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, driving under the influence, accidents involving damage to unattended vehicle or property, reckless driving and restrictions on alcoholic beverages.

According to police, a hit-and-run was reported about 2 a.m. Sunday in the 400 block of Catalpa Street. A parked SUV, a rental, had minor paint scratches after being hit by a pickup.

Police located the pickup but, when the driver would not stop, chose not to pursue because it was being driven erratically.

An officer relocated the vehicle and, after a brief pursuit, he stopped it at Ridge Avenue and North Street at gunpoint with a Lower Burrell officer, according to court documents. New Kensington officers took the driver, later identified as Slater, into custody.

Police said that while Slater was being taken to a police car in handcuffs, he was stumbling and fell on his face and stomach. His speech was slurred and they could smell alcohol on his breath, police said.

Police said there were open containers of alcoholic beverages in Slater’s vehicle, and the front passenger wheel had been completely blown off from hitting objects, with the rim completely exposed and touching the ground.

Slater agreed to a blood draw, police said, which was done at Allegheny Valley Hospital.

Police said Slater admitted to being “a little drunk” and to driving his pickup to get home from a friend’s house on Industrial Boulevard. Slater, while in custody at the hospital, admitted to hitting multiple things throughout the incident, police said.

Slater was released on an unsecured $5,000 bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 3.