Police: Man Confesses to Using Heroin Before Motor Vehicle Accident

Police charged a 37-year-old Hawthorne man with driving under the influence Wednesday after he confessed to using heroin before a motor vehicle accident, said.

According to the police report, Office John Culic responded to a motor vehicle accident on Ratzer Road, just west of Pike Drive, shortly before noon. Culic said in the report that he detected an odor of alcohol emanating from Bryan Russo’s breath.

Culic reported that Russo was walking around his car, looking disoriented and confused and bleeding from the forehead.

Sgt. Michael McNiff observed two wax paper baggies on the floor near the gas pedal, Culic states in the report.

Russo was transported to St. Joseph’s Wayne Hospital for treatment, where, the report states, Russo told police he used three bags of heroin about an hour prior to the accident. Russo also had a syringe in his possession, the report states.

Russo was issued motor vehicle summonses for driving under the influence, reckless driving, driving without a license, and leaving the scene of an accident.