PITTSBURGH —
A Pittsburgh police officer is
facing DUI charges after showing up to work drunk Friday night.
According to the criminal
complaint, Vernon Gibson, 38, of Mount Washington, was seen by a fellow officer
driving into the parking lot of the Municipal Courts Building about 11 p.m.
After exiting his SUV, Gibson
was told by Sgt. Sean Duffy to get into his unmarked police vehicle to be taken
to UPMC Mercy Hospital for mandatory, random drug and alcohol testing.
The complaint said Duffy
“immediately noticed his [Gibson’s] eyes were bloodshot, glassy and watery.”
It was also noted in the
complaint that Duffy observed Gibson smelled of alcohol and had slurred speech.
Two breath tests were
administered to Gibson upon arrival at Mercy Hospital. The lower of the two
tests read .128, exceeding the legal limit of .08.
Richard Stanley, Gibson’s
neighbor, said, “You got people out here that look up to officers, kids that
want to be a cop. To hear about this allegation, or whatever, people are going
to start looking at everybody differently now.”
Gibson was released on summons
and is charged with two counts of driving under the influence. He has been
placed on administrative leave.
A preliminary hearing is
scheduled for Feb. 12, 2014.
Gibson has previously been in
trouble with the law for insurance fraud. He served a suspension and was
ordered to clerical work, among other punishments.
