News

Pitt's Tyler Boyd formally charged with DUI

PITTSBURGH — Police officially filed driving under the influence and other charges Tuesday against University of Pittsburgh star wide receiver Tyler Boyd stemming from a traffic stop Friday.

Jefferson Hills police Chief Eugene Roach said the 20-year-old player was pulled over about 2:30 a.m. Friday after passing another vehicle within an intersection.

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On Monday, Roach said a portable breath test was "positive" for alcohol but results of a blood test were pending.

The charges were officially filed Tuesday because local courts were observing the Flag Day holiday and closed Monday. Boyd will be notified by mail.

Boyd is from Clairton, Pennsylvania, another suburb about 30 minutes south of Pittsburgh, just beyond Jefferson Hills.

He caught 78 passes for 1,261 yards and eight touchdowns and was a first-team All-ACC selection for Pitt as a sophomore in 2014.

"Tyler's situation is both serious and disappointing," Pitt Coach Pat Narduzzi said in a statement. "We have high expectations for the young men in our program, on and off the field. Tyler understands that and knows he must be responsible for his actions. Certainly he will be held accountable to our internal standards of discipline and behavior."

In Pennsylvania, drivers are considered illegally under the influence if their blood-alcohol content is 0.08 percent or greater, unless they're under 21 which makes them too young to legally drink, like Boyd.

Such drivers are considered under the influence at 0.02 percent, a threshold that can be reached with one drink by most people.

Boyd told police had had "two shots" of an unspecified alcoholic beverage, the chief's news release said. Passing another vehicle in an intersection is also illegal in Pennsylvania.

As such, Boyd will be charged with driving under the influence, underage drinking and unspecified Pennsylvania Vehicle Code violations, the police chief said.

Boyd was released to a family member after Friday's traffic stop, the chief said.

Although a first drunken driving offense can carry up to two days in jail and a fine as high as $5,000, first offenders are often eligible for a special program that enables them to serve probation -- usually for about a year -- without pleading guilty. Such defendants can ask to have their arrest record expunged if they complete the probation without incident.

Boyd’s first court appearance will be on Aug. 9.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.