Springdale man accused of DUI said, 'If I want to drive through the house, I will,' court docs show

A Springdale man is accused of drunken driving and intentionally crashing through the garage door attached to his North Street house Thursday night.

Anthony Hallo, 65, is facing numerous charges, including causing or risking a catastrophe.

The 11:50 p.m. collision and fire posed a danger to Hallo’s wife inside the house and to police and firefighters, Springdale police Chief George Polnar said.

He said the impact caused a fire that had to be put out by firefighters. Police said Hallo drove through the garage door from the outside.

Police said Hallo refused to get out of the car and Sgt. Derek A. Dayoub injured a shoulder getting him out.

Polnar said Dayoub also was treated for smoke inhalation but was planning to work Friday night.

“It appears he (Hallo) intentionally hit the garage,” Polnar said.

“When I got into the garage, I could barely see due to the thick smoke,” Dayoub wrote in Hallo’s arrest papers. “I could hear a vehicle engine revving loudly. I got partially into the basement and couldn’t go any further due to the thick smoke.”

There were gas tanks and parts of a large model airplane inside the garage.

Hallo told officers he had been out for dinner and drinks with friends.

“This is my (expletive) house, and if I want to drive through the house, I will,” he told officers, according to Hallo’s arrest papers.

The crash caused heavy damage to the car, garage door and house.

In addition to risking a catastrophe, Hallo is facing charges of reckless endangerment, failure to prevent a catastrophe, drunken driving and reckless driving.

Hallo was taken to Allegheny County Night Court in Pittsburgh early Friday.