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PLAINS TWP. — Police charged Gregory Strazdus of Ransom Road, Dallas, in Wednesday’s hit and run along Harveys Lake, bringing him for arraignment before District Judge Joseph Spagnuolo after midnight Sunday morning.
Strazdus, 47, was charged with one count each of aggravated assault by vehicle, accident involving death or personal injury, accident involving damage to attended vehicle or property, failing to give information and render aid, failure to notify police of an accident, injury or death, and careless driving.
Spagnuolo said the first two counts are felony 3 with a maximum sentence of seven years and a $15,000 fine for each.
When Spagnuolo asked for bail recommendations, Police Chief Charles Musial suggested it be set high because Strazdus had already fled the scene and was thus a flight risk. Strazdus insisted he was no risk and couldn’t afford to go anywhere. Bail was set at $150,000 at 10 percent, and Strazdus was taken to jail. His preliminary hearing was set for March 17 at 9:30 a.m. in front of District Judge James Tupper.
According to the police affidavit:
• Officer Scott Baker responded to a call of a bicyclist struck by a motor vehicle on March 9 at 4:37 p.m. and found Kurt Manganella sitting against the guide rail along Lakeside Drive at pole 69. Manganella, 52, was taken to the hospital and later diagnosed with four broken ribs, lung and hip contusions and other bruises and abrasions.
• Baker found debris at the accident sight and collected it as evidence, including a passenger side mirror and glass. At the police station, Baker learned of a voice message from Noah Kustrin and called him. Kustrin said he was on a porch at pole 139 and saw a light-colored SUV strike a cyclist. The police retrieved video from a property along the road that showed Manganella pass on his bike, followed by a Jeep and then an SUV identified as a 2005 or 2006 Chevrolet Equinox.
• Manganella later told police he had been hit by the passenger side front fender and as he hit the ground he heard the engine rev and the vehicle speed up.
• On March 12 around 7:30 p.m., Musial received a call from a women saying she had information about the hit and run, identifying Strazdus as the owner of a Chevrolet Equinox. An officer was sent to Strazdus’ residence and found an Equinox with right side damage, including the right side mirror. Strazdus admitted to being at Harveys Lake March 9 around 4 p.m, and that he had hit a mailbox or something. He told the officer he had slowed down, looked in the mirror and didn’t see anything so he continued.
Strazdus was taken into custody at that point.
During the arraignment, Strazdus told Spagnuolo that he is on disability, that he has no drug or alcohol addictions, and that he takes methadone and pain medication but could not remember the name.