PETERS TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A groom and his best man were cited after a wedding reception in Peters Township Saturday for allegedly stealing a golf cart and riding in it for miles on Route 19.
Peters Township police said the men were spotted riding on the berm of the highway just before midnight.
Matt Mitchko, the groom's brother, told Channel 11's Vince Sims that his brother and his brother's best man were trying to use the cart to get back to a hotel near the Meadows Casino, which is nearly nine miles away from the country club.
“I guess that’s one way to get married,” Mitchko said. “I guess they thought it was a good idea at the time so they took the cart and made it about three or four miles down Route 19 before they got stopped.”
Matt Mitchko took a video of the golf cart on his cellphone when he drove passed it.
“I kind of figured they were up to something and the next thing you know, we left the reception and headed down 19. Someone pointed out to me and said, ‘That has to be your brother and Ian,’” Mitchko said.
Michael Mitchko and Ian Hopkins told police they were using the cart from Rolling Hills Country Club on East McMurray Road as transportation.
Officials from the country club would not comment on the incident but said they did get their cart back.
Police said Hopkins passed a field-sobriety test and was cited for disorderly conduct and driving an unregistered vehicle. Mitchko received citations for disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.
Jared Meek, another groomsman in the wedding, said the bride wasn’t happy about the situation.
“She was upset and mostly concerned that he might not be coming back to the hotel that night. But he did,” Meek said. “By morning, I think everyone just thought it was a really good story.”
Matt Mitchko told Sims his brother and his bride are on their honeymoon and aren’t aware of all the attention their wedding is receiving.