Man To Stand Trial On Charges Related To High-Speed Police Chase
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- At a preliminary hearing in Municipal Court on Tuesday, Carolyn Robinson sat and listened to the case against her son.
"We've all been very hurt behind it. Everybody involved. I just didn't raise Donovan like that," Robinson said.
Robinson sat in court listening to three police officers testify against her son, 18-year-old Donovan Robinson.
Police say he was the driver of a white Chevy Impala that raced through several of the city's East End neighborhoods last December with police in pursuit at speeds in excess of 70 miles per hour.
His attorney said Robinson's actions were a complete surprise.
Attorney James Wymard said, "No guns, no drugs, he just panicked and he just took off."
Police say they followed Robinson after he ran a stop sign in Larimer.
At the time of the pursuit, they believed he was in the car alone. It wasn't until he hit another car head-on, in the business district of Baum Boulevard, that police realized there were two juveniles in the car too.
All three were hospitalized, as well as the couple in the car Robinson hit head-on. Everyone involved has recovered from injury.
"He made very poor choices and he paid for that, has yet to pay, but paid in that he thought he hurt his sisters," said his mother.
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Attorney Wymard argued, "He is not a bad guy, not a violent guy, I think he was just in full panic."
The city changed its policy on police pursuits initially after the crash. A search of the car Robinson as driving turned up a bullet proof vest and a police scanner.
One officer testified Robinson was traveling at such a high rate of speed, it took them awhile to catch up with him.
Two corruption of minor charges were dismissed, but Robinson was held for court on all other charges. He was remanded to the Allegheny County Jail.
