SLIPPERY ROCK — A district judge reduced bail Wednesday for a man being held in jail for allegedly driving under the influence and trying to flee from officers earlier this year.

If Rocco V. Colonello, 32, of Middlesex Township is convicted, it will be his fifth DUI offense.

After being arrested by state police Sept. 1, Colonello was put in jail on $50,000 bail. But District Judge William O'Donnell reduced his bail to $1 during Wednesday's hearing.

However, Colonello will remain in Butler County Prison because he is wanted in Allegheny County for a non-jury trial later this month for drug-related charges, according to court documents.

In reference to the Butler County charges, police said Colonello was driving a BMW sedan the night of Aug. 30 when police observed him turning onto West Liberty Road without signaling. State Trooper Shaun Milkovich tried to pull Colonello over but Colonello instead sped up, going faster than 85 mph in a 35 mph zone.

“The vehicle continued at a high rate of speed until spinning out in the area of Covert Road,” Milkovich said in his affidavit, adding how the car eventually spun off the road and ended up in a field. “The defendant stated he ran because he did not want to go back to jail.”

Police noted Colonello has four prior convictions for driving under the influence, dating back to 2010. He will have his formal arraignment in December.

Rocco Colonello