Crime & Safety

Man Charged with Possessing Heroin, Leading Police on High-Speed Chase

The Coraopolis man has also been charged with driving on a suspended license.

A Coraopolis man who led officers from across the region on a high-speed car chase earlier this month was found this week on Stevenson Mill Road with heroin in his car, said. 

Deno Alfred Berardi, 18, was charged Sunday with heroin possession, intent to deliver or sell heroin and driving on a suspended license.

Police said Berardi lead officers from Moon, Crescent, Stowe, Coraopolis and Findlay on a high-speed car chase at 2 a.m. Feb. 2, driving down Brodhead and Flaugherty Run roads at speeds in excess of 100 mph, according to police records. 

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Police said Berardi ditched his vehicle in a wooded area on Moon Clinton Road and fled. A Crescent Township woman who owned the vehicle later told police that she loaned it to Berardi for the evening. 

Berardi was arrested this week on a warrant stemming from the Feb. 2 chase. Police said they found him at the 1000 block of Stevenson Mill Road with seven stamp bags of heroin in his vehicle. 

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Police charged him with fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, driving with a suspended license, driving on the wrong side of the road, limitations on driving on the left side of the roadway, driving on roadways laned for traffic, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, speeding, careless driving and reckless driving. 

Berardi was taken to the Allegheny County Jail after his arrest. He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing March 6 in Coraopolis District Court.

also responded to the following recent incidents and made the following recent arrests in the township. Each item reflects police records and does not indicate guilt or a conviction. 

  • Robert Russell, 44 of McKees Rocks, was charged with accidents involving damage to a vehicle, reckless driving, endangering another person and criminal mischief at 3 a.m. Saturday. Police said he attempted to run another vehicle off the roadway. 
  • Jake Edward Felsing, 25, of Moon, was charged with theft by unlawful taking Feb. 21. 


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