Oct 16, 2017 By The 2 min read

A Monessen man is behind bars on $50,000 bond after he allegedly passed out behind the wheel of his van early Sunday while holding a handgun on his lap with his finger on the trigger.

Richard M. Dudas, 22, of 223 Reed Ave. is charged with driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and disorderly conduct.

Charleroi Regional police Officer David Kimball said he was called to Davidson Drive in Speers around 2:45 a.m. Sunday, for a report of a suspicious white van running outside a home there.

When Kimball approached the car, he said he could see empty alcohol containers in the center console. Dudas was unresponsive in the driver’s seat, and had a black handgun in his lap with his finger on the trigger, according to court paperwork.

Additional units responded to the scene, police said, as Kimball repeatedly used his vehicle’s public address system calling for Dudas to put up his hands.

At some point, the vehicle, which was still in drive, started to move down a hill and into a yard, where Dudas hit a tree and did damage to the property, police said.

According to the affidavit, when the vehicle stopped, Dudas put his hands up, but police had to break a window to get to him because the doors of the van were still locked.

Kimball said he smelled marijuana coming from the van, and found empty bottles of alcoholic tea inside.

Police said Dudas’ blood-alcohol content was .15 percent, nearly twice the legal limit of .08 percent for Pennsylvania drivers.

Dudas was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Ethan T. Ward, Sunday, and committed to the Washington County Prison. He will face a preliminary hearing at a later date.