Kiski Township police: Men charged after showing up at station drunk to discuss earlier incident
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Police in Kiski Township say two men were drunk and upset when they showed up at the police station Sunday morning to discuss an earlier incident involving them in which police had not filed charges.
Charges were filed against both men, however, in connection with the visit to the police station.
Chad Edward Kerchensky, 19, of Kiski Township and Ethan Birch, 20, of Allegheny Township showed up at the station about 5:40 a.m., according to a criminal complaint.
Both men appeared at the station door and were greeted by Kiski Township Officer Jason Loose, who had investigated the earlier incident, the complaint said. When reached by phone Tuesday, Kiski Township police Sgt. Thomas Dessell would not disclose the nature of the earlier incident but said no charges were filed and it isn’t a matter of public record.
In the criminal complaint, Loose said the two men appeared to be visibly upset and wanted to discuss the earlier incident. Loose wrote both men refused to leave the station.
The complaint said both men smelled strongly of alcohol when they walked inside the station. Both had “watery, bloodshot eyes along with slurred speech and a staggered gait as they walked, all indicators of being intoxicated,” the complaint said.
When asked, Kerchensky said he drove his car to the station, the complaint said. Surveillance footage captured by cameras outside the station confirmed that, police said. Loose put Kerchensky in handcuffs and escorted him to a Breathalyzer machine across the station.
The complaint said that’s when Birch started to interfere, and police took him into custody when he “continued to act belligerent, argumentative at times and (refused) to follow the orders.”
At the urging of Birch, Kerchensky refused to submit to a Breathalyzer test and asked to speak with an attorney, the complaint said.
Police charged Kerchensky with drunken driving, possession of a weapon and underage drinking. The weapons charge was related to a set of brass knuckles attached to a knife police said they found in his car.
It’s at least the third DUI arrest for Kerchensky — online records show a previous DUI conviction and another pending case.
Birch received two summary citations for underage drinking and disorderly conduct.
Police said both men were released Sunday into the custody of a sober adult.