Sewickley Man Charged with Assault, Public Drunkenness

A Sewickley man is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Friday on charges of assault and public drunkenness after failing a field sobriety test, kicking out the back window of a police car, and kicking two police officers as they removed him from the vehicle, according to a Northern Regional Police Department report.

Eric David Baumgartner, 30, faces two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of simple assault, two counts of recklessly endangering another person, one count of criminal mischief, and one count of public drunkenness, police said.

Friday's preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Regis Welsh Jr.

Police were called about 3:30 p.m. on May 18 when the manager of Levin Furniture in Wexford saw a man in the store's rear parking lot looking through parked vehicles, said police.

Police discovered Baumgartner hiding behind a vehicle, the report said.

When they asked what he was doing there, Baumgartner "stated that he was waiting for his mother, who works at Michaels," according to the report, which also noted that there is no Michaels store at the Wexford Plaza.

“While speaking to the male, I noticed a strong odor of alcoholic beverage on his breath,” the police report said.

The report described Baumgartner as looking unkempt, with poor balance and watery eyes.

“His speech was not understandable,” police said.

Baumgartner failed several field sobriety tests, according to the police report. The result of a preliminary breath test was 0.240 percent, the report said. In Pennsylvania, a person is considered to be legally drunk with a test result of 0.08 percent.

“While filling out the citation for public drunkenness and attempting to find someone to release him to, Eric Baumgartner kept moving around in the back of the car and complaining about getting out of the car,” according to the report.

Police told Baumgartner to stop moving around, the report said.

“Baumgartner then turned and started to kick out the rear passenger window. He was repeatedly told to stop. He became very violent and broke the rear window out of the window seal and frame,” according to the police report.

When three officers attempted to remove Baumgartner from the rear of the vehicle to secure his feet, he kicked two of the officers, the police report said. Baumgartner’s feet were then secured with a restraint belt, police said.

Baumgartner was processed at the Northern Regional Police Station, then transported to Allegheny County Jail, the report stated.