St. Louis man racks up six offenses in Troy on Oct. 4
By Charles Bolinger
Editor • Troy Police Sgt. Jessica Callahan did her job and then some on Oct. 4 when he conducted a traffic stop at North Kimberlin and Clay Street.
In his field report, Callahan said she was on patrol when she observed a white and tan Dodge Ram 3500 three-quarter ton pickup truck. The truck did not have a registration affixed to it. She activated her lights and pulled over the driver, Dominick S. Pizzo.
Pizzo immediately advised Callahan that Pizzo had a parole violation warrant. Pizzo added that he had just bought the truck two days prior and he had no insurance or registration for it. He was, however, unable to provide Callahan with a bill-of-sale or a truck title to prove ownership.
Pizzo’s passenger, Jeffrey Johnson, showed Callahan a Missouri identification card. Callahan checked his in-car computer but Johnson had no warrants.
Pizzo’s computer inquiry did not come back the same. He had two active warrants, one for failure to appear in court in Douglas County, Illinois, on traffic offenses with a $3,000 bond and another for possessing a controlled substance while on parole in Clark County, Missouri. Bond on that one is $50,000, cash only.
Pizzo also had a revoked Missouri Driver’s License. He was handcuffed per department policy, searched without incident and Callahan secured Pizzo in his patrol vehicle.
After back-up arrived on scene, Callahan noted that Johnson admitted that there was possibly cocaine or marijuana in the truck.
“Based on these statements I conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle,” Callahan said. “While searching it, I located the following contraband:
One gray plastic tray with white residue, located on a shelf beneath the radio. The residue field-tested positive as cocaine. One brass Winchester 9mm Luger round in the center console.”
After being read his Miranda Rights at the scene, Pizzo claimed he owned the tray. He did not claim to own the round but he indicated it was aware it was in the center console.
Both items were collected, photographed and entered into evidence to be destroyed.
“It should be noted, the round was seized due to Pizzo being a convicted felon.” Callahan said. The truck was towed while Pizzo was booked and processed on his warrants at the Troy Police Department. Pizzo received three citations – driving on a revoked license; no insurance; and no valid registration.
Pizzo was later transported to the Madison County Jail, where he was being held pending felony warrant application for Fugitive from Justice.
Callahan said images from her body and in-car cameras were uploaded to the department’s evidence drive.
