OFFICER CHARGED

Police: Off-duty cop was intoxicated when he hit bicyclist

A Pittsburgh police officer has been accused of driving under the influence and hitting a bicyclist after leaving a North Shore bar on a night in June when he was off duty.

Officer Brian M. Martin, 35, of Westwood, was charged Friday with accidents involving death or personal injury, driving under the influence and reckless driving. He has been placed on administrative

leave.

According to a criminal complaint, police and medics went to the intersection of Allegheny and Ridge avenues about 11 p.m. June 19 for a report of a hit-and-run involving a bicycle.

The bicyclist, identified as 39-year-old Jeffrey Ruby, told investigators he was pedaling along Ridge Avenue when he was hit from behind by a black pickup truck, which then left the scene. Mr. Ruby said he was knocked backward off his bike and hit his head on the road.

Mr. Ruby had an abrasion on his lower left leg and complained of head pain, but he declined to be taken to a hospital, according to the complaint.

Two witnesses said they saw the truck strike Mr. Ruby and tried to help him. They also provided police with a description of a vehicle — a black pickup truck with tinted windows — and one of them recorded its license plate number. Police then determined the truck was registered to Officer Martin.

Pittsburgh police Cmdr. Michael Pilyih and a lieutenant went to Officer Martin’s home on Bartow Street and saw a black pickup in the driveway. No damage to the truck was visible, but investigators noted in the complaint that it was dark, and the point of contact with the victim was unknown when they saw the vehicle.

When Officer Martin answered his door, he “appeared unsteady on his feet and displayed glassy eyes,” the complaint said. Cmdr. Pilyih asked Officer Martin about his current status and assignment, and “Martin seemed very confused and his initial answers were almost unintelligible,” the complaint said.

The commander asked Officer Martin whether he had been on the North Side that night, and the officer replied that he didn’t think so. He told Cmdr. Pilyih, “We were here partying,” the complaint said.

Cmdr. Pilyih told Officer Martin that his vehicle was involved in the hit-and-run incident earlier that night, but the officer continued to act confused and denied being on the North Side, according to the complaint.

The next day, investigators obtained a search warrant for Officer Martin’s truck and were able to download its GPS and other information. Using the GPS coordinates, investigators found a city surveillance camera that showed some of Officer Martin’s activities that night.

The camera showed Officer Martin parking his truck outside of Tequila Cowboy on North Shore Drive and entering the bar at 5:58 p.m. He did not leave until 10:51 p.m.

Security video footage from Tequila Cowboy showed Officer Martin drinking eight 20 oz. Miller Lite beers and two shots while at the bar, according to the complaint.

It appeared that Officer Martin “stumbled” while walking to his truck, the complaint said. Another person appears to try to keep Officer Martin from entering the truck, according to the complaint, but the officer pushed that person aside and drove away.

The GPS showed that the truck was in the 700 block of Allegheny Avenue — near the scene of the accident — at 10:53 p.m. A city camera on the West End Bridge showed the vehicle crossing the bridge and running a red light, according to the complaint.

On June 21, police went to Mr. Ruby’s home, where he appeared to be in distress and said he felt sluggish, according to the complaint. The bicycle helmet he was wearing the night of the accident was severely damaged on its back and left sides.

Officers advised Mr. Ruby to go to a hospital, where he was later diagnosed with a concussion, the complaint said.

Officer Martin has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Sept. 26. He could not be reached Friday night.

“Martin is a sworn officer with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. This incident occurred while he was off-duty. He has been placed on unpaid administrative leave,” police said in a news release.