Man accused of driving under the influence with children in car

Monongahela Police arrested a man Sunday after allegedly finding him driving under the influence with two children in the car.

Aiden Dutko, 19, of Canonsburg, is charged with two counts of endangering welfare of children-parent/guardian/ other commits offense, recklessly endangering another person, and DUI stemming from an alleged incident on Sunday, court records state.

According to a criminal complaint, officers were sitting in the parking lot of city hall when they heard a car rapidly accelerate on West Main Street. Police followed the vehicle and had to quickly accelerate to catch up to it.

Police observed the driver turn left at a red light and then they pulled the car over. The officer removed Dutko from the vehicle and then placed him in handcuffs.

Police said they noticed a strong alcoholic odor from Dutko and his speech was slow and sluggish. When asked for a license, Dutko said he only had a driver’s permit. A 19-year-old passenger tested positive for having alcohol in his system, according to police.

Two 16-year-olds who were in the vehicle tested negative for alcohol. Dutko declined a sobriety test and chemical testing, police said.

Dutko has a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Mark Wilson set for 11:15 a.m. Nov. 5.

— Ladimir Garcia