Police logs track fatal accident

By Gordon Ovenshine
Staff writer

As police huddled today to review the events that caused the death of a 7-year-old bicyclist Monday, telephone records showed the tragedy unfolded in 14 minutes.

At 5:46 p.m., an Avalon man called police to say a passing motorist threatened to shoot him. At 6 p.m., Raymond Michelotti was fatally struck about three miles away in the Brighton Heights section of Pittsburgh.

Police charged Jamal Tait, 22, with homicide by vehicle in connection with the accident. He is awaiting a July 2 preliminary hearing. He is being held in the Allegheny County Jail on a $260,000 bond.

Homicide by vehicle is a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by 2<\#221> to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Bellevue, which fields Avalon's police calls, does not tape record calls for help, so it will be impossible for investigators to recreate the dialogue between dispatchers, police and the caller. But a computer printout presented a clear timeline.

An anonymous male alerted police to trouble from 353 Spruce Run Road at 5:46 p.m., according to the logs. A man in a green Chevy Blazer pulled a gun on him, the caller told the dispatcher.

The dispatcher alerted Avalon police. An officer responded, pulling in front of the house two minutes later, at 5:48 p.m.

The Blazer was gone by the time police arrive.

At 5:54 p.m., the Blazer crossed into Bellevue, the log indicates. At 5:58 p.m., someone threw a handgun from the vehicle at Kendall and Davis avenues. The weapon was recovered.

At that point, Bellevue and Avalon police were trailing the suspect. A minute later, at 5:59 p.m., after the driver ran a stop sign at 50 mph, Bellevue police called off the chase because they deemed it too dangerous, said Michael Bookser, Bellevue police chief.

Police from Avalon and Bellevue who were involved in the chase were to meet with Allegheny County Deputy District Attorney Edward Borkowski today at an undisclosed location.

According to police, more charges could be forthcoming, such as terrorist threats and firearm violations. The juveniles might be charged be charged as accessories to a crime, too.