Off-duty officer hit pedestrian, city police say

Kennedy cop accused of being impaired in South Side incident

An impaired, off-duty Kennedy police officer struck and critically injured a pedestrian with his car Friday morning on the South Side but remains free while the investigation continues, Pittsburgh police said.

Pittsburgh police and Kennedy officials refused to name the officer. Sources, however, identified him as Frank A. Caligiuri Jr., 40, a 12-year veteran.

He was released "pending charges," police said.

The incident occurred down the street from a fatal 2007 traffic accident in which Officer Caligiuri's friend and high school classmate, former Crafton patrolman Donnie L. Breeden, 39, is awaiting trial.

Pittsburgh police have not filed charges in the latest incident on West Carson Street. The city's accident reconstructionists need time to conclude their work; timelines are still being constructed; and all the findings must be discussed with prosecutors before any decision is made.

But investigators, believing that the Kennedy officer was behind the wheel and impaired, are focusing on whether he called 911 or stopped to render aid -- factors which could lead to the accident qualifying as a felony hit-and-run.

"He did identify himself and make a statement to officers about his involvement in the crash at the crash scene," Lt. Kevin Kraus said.

Results of an Intoxilyzer test "did confirm that there was a level of impairment," Lt. Kraus said.

The victim, a 22-year-old man from the West End who also was not identified, was spotted lying in the outbound lanes of the 1600 block of West Carson Street around 2:24 a.m. by an officer on patrol.

It is not known how long the victim had been in the road. He was in critical but stable condition last night at UPMC Mercy with severe head injuries.

"It sounds like he's improving," Lt. Kraus said.

Police released few details about how they came across the driver at the scene. They would not say what type of car he was driving -- though Lt. Kraus confirmed it was the officer's personal vehicle -- or whether he left the scene for any amount of time.

Officer Caligiuri, of Pennsbury Village, graduated from Carlynton High School in Carnegie in 1988 with Mr. Breeden, a former Crafton officer who faces trial next month on a felony charge of accidents involving death or personal injury and a misdemeanor count of involuntary manslaughter.

Pittsburgh police arrested Mr. Breeden last year in connection with a July 20, 2007, hit-and-run in the 1500 block of West Carson Street that killed David Hall, 24, of Moon.

Mr. Hall's father sued Mr. Breeden in May in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court alleging negligence and wrongful death.

Neither Officer Caligiuri nor Mr. Breeden could be reached for comment.

Kennedy police Chief Anthony Bruni did not return calls.

Township solicitor Joseph Kulik said the issue of what to do with the officer was a personnel matter but added, "The actions that are being contemplated would involve the continuance of pay at the present time."

"There is every effort being made to take immediate action," Mr. Kulik said. "It's a very, very serious matter and is being treated as such by our commissioners."

First published on August 28, 2010 at 12:00 am