Anthony Cousins

SAXONBURG — Citing her concern for the public and his own client, District Judge Sue Haggerty rejected an attorney’s plea that a two-time suspected drugged driver be allowed to walk out of her courtroom a free man Wednesday.

Moments earlier, Haggerty had arraigned Anthony M. Cousins, 24, of Franklin Township on charges that he was high on cocaine and opiates last month when he caused a head-on crash in Penn Township, leaving the other driver seriously injured.

Minutes before the arraignment, Cousins waived his preliminary hearing at Haggerty’s office in Saxonburg on drugged driving charges stemming from a December traffic stop in Jefferson Township.

State police also disclosed that they were called to Cousins’ home last week after he apparently overdosed.

“I have concerns for yourself and the public,” Haggerty told Cousins in response to his attorney’s request that he be given unsecured bail that would keep him out of jail pending his cases.

Instead, she set a combined bail of $15,000. At the end of the court proceedings, Cousins was taken away in handcuffs to Butler County Prison.

His attorney, Ronald Makoski of Greensburg, Westmoreland County, said his client’s parents planned to contact a bail bondsman in hopes of getting their son out of prison, before leaving the courtroom without further comment.

Penn Township police Wednesday filed felony and other charges against the defendant in the March 16 crash on Route 8 that left Kenneth Fry hospitalized.

Cousins’ sport utility vehicle shortly after 1 p.m. crossed the center line and collided with Fry’s oncoming Jeep.

A medical helicopter flew Fry to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh where he was admitted to the intensive care unit. He needed a tracheotomy due to broken ribs and difficulty breathing.

A family member also told police that Fry’s foot was broken to the point it may require amputation.

Police on Wednesday did not immediately know his condition and recovery status.

At the crash scene, police suspected Cousins was impaired. He admitted that he had “a heroin problem but had not used in awhile.”

He eventually was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital for a blood test. Toxicology results subsequently showed the presence of cocaine and opiates.

He is charged with a top count of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, a felony.

The earlier drugged driving arrest happened Dec. 6 after state police stopped him on Route 356 in Jefferson Township for having a burned out brake light on his SUV.

A search turned up five empty stamp bags of suspected heroin, three hypodermic needles and a drug-cooking spoon, court documents said.

In addition to DUI, he is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, making an improper stop, disregarding traffic lanes, careless driving and a lighting violation.

During Wednesday’s arraignment in the felony DUI case, Makoski also argued unsuccessfully that his client be released on pretrial supervision with specific conditions.

Haggerty said she would not consider that request until after Cousins’ preliminary hearing May 3.