Pittsburgh city employee waives road rage charges
A city of Pittsburgh employee waived his preliminary hearing in court Wednesday.
City public works employee Paul Grguras, 65, is charged with several misdemeanor charges, including terroristic threats and simple assault. His attorney, Phil Dilucente, said they waived the hearing.
"In exchange for a waiver, and the only reason there was a waiver is because no felony charges would be added today. We're going forward," he said.
Video shows Grguras spraying wasp spray on Donald Jones while on the Panther Hollow Bridge in Oakland in September.
Police said Grguras was driving a backhoe and blocked Jones as he was trying to drive across the bridge with his two daughters. He then went up to Jones' car and tore off the side view mirror.
Rose Brice, Jones' mother-in-law, said the charges against Grguras are not severe enough.
"His back is turned. You knew what you was doing when you walked over to that vehicle. He's having a conversation, and for somebody to walk over to you with their arm behind their back, he knew what his intentions were," she said.
Brice also feels the city is partly responsible.
"I have a problem with the city not making sure my daughter, their vehicle was taken care of. Nobody ever reached out, said an apology, said I'm sorry," she said. "There's no way the city isn't responsible."
The city of Pittsburgh issued a statement to Pittsburgh's Action News 4:
"The Department of Public Works does not condone behavior that places anyone in any form of harm. Since the incident, the worker underwent our disciplinary process and we've applied the appropriate measure of discipline with the worker challenging that decision through the grievance process. While that is ongoing, the worker remains off the job without pay. We can not discuss the disciplinary measure taken at this time."
Dilucente said he wants to resolve the case.
"What I'd like to do in this case is have a serious meeting with the commonwealth. Sit down with them and try to get this resolved somehow, someway. My client right now, as you know, has issues with his employer, and we'd like to get it all resolved," he said.
Grguras is scheduled to be in court in December.
