Hazleton trooper charged with DUI, had children in car

A Pennsylvania State Police corporal has been suspended after being charged with driving under the influence.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Cpl. Jere Ustonofski of the Pennsylvania State Police Troop N — Hazleton.

At 7:57 p.m. Monday state police at Hazleton received a telephone call from an employee at the McDonald’s on Route 309 in Hazle Township, Luzerne County, who reported a possible intoxicated male in a white Chevrolet sedan.

The caller reported the man was stumbling and appeared highly intoxicated, and said the car left the parking lot and traveled right toward the Dollar General.

Police received a second call from a woman who reported the vehicle in front of her, a white Chevrolet sedan, was traveling east on Route 940 and was all over the road.

The caller said she was concerned the driver was intoxicated, and said the vehicle turned into the parking lot of a post office on Oakmont Drive.

Ustonofski caught up with the car and saw the driver enter the oncoming travel lane and swerving.

Hazleton Trooper Brendon Smith saw the car go over the double yellow line.

They initiated a traffic stop and the driver, Eric T. Porpiglia, 34, of Drums, displayed signs of being highly intoxicated and under the influence of an alcoholic beverage.

His eyes were glassy and bloodshot, his speech thick, low and very slurred, mumbling at times that made his speech difficult to comprehend.

Ustonofski also saw two children in the back seat: a 2-year-old girl and an 8-year-old girl. They were released into the custody of their grandparents while at the scene.

Porpiglia was taken into custody and transported to PSP Hazleton for a chemical test of his breath, where the results showed the percentage of alcohol in Porpiglia’s blood was 0.208.

Porpiglia, who was charged on Tuesday, enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Police in November 2007.

He has been suspended without pay pending resolution of the criminal charges against him and an internal investigation.

Porpiglia faces charges of endangering welfare of children; driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance; driving on right side of roadway; careless driving; and reckless driving.

He is currently free in lieu of $25,000 unsecured bail, and is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing May 21 before District Judge James M. Dixon of Hazle Township.