Middletown Township police officers responded to a unique scene last Saturday when they say a man was found passed out at the wheel while in the left turn lane of a busy roadway.
A police affidavit states that three officers responded to the intersection of Langhorne-Newtown Road and the Newtown Bypass Saturday night and found 47-year-old Christian Piazza passed out in his vehicle. The vehicle was reportedly in drive, with Piazza’s foot on the break, and the stereo loudly playing.
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Police parked in front of the vehicle while a witness to the incident was parked in back of Piazza, preventing the vehicle from rolling into oncoming traffic. Court documents show that Piazza’s windows were up and his doors locked, preventing officers from switching the vehicle into park or turning the vehicle off.
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Officers stated in court papers that they attempted to wake Piazza numerous times but found that he would open his eyes and lift his head and then fall back asleep, according to court documents. Police said Piazza then awoke and slammed down on the accelerator, propelling his vehicle into a police cruiser and pushing it approximately one car length. Officers made attempts to smash the left rear window and pepper spray Piazza to prevent him from fleeing but were unsuccessful and had to resort to breaking the driver side front window.
Official reports state Piazza acted as “dead weight” making it extremely difficult for officers to arrest the man and place him into their patrol vehicle. After Piazza was taken into custody he was transported to St. Mary Medical Center to be treated, police said.
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While seeking medical treatment, officers noted that Piazza would not submit to a chemical blood test, police said.
Piazza was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest, fleeing, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, reckless driving, careless driving, and DUI. Piazza remains in lockup on 10 percent of $400,000 bail. He is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing on August 18.
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
