Cops: York hit-and-run driver picked the wrong guy to rear-end

York Dispatch

A York City man who police say was driving while high on pot took off after rear-ending another vehicle and was able to ditch his drug paraphernalia down a storm drain, according to police.

But it was driver Edgardo Tirado-Valdes' bad luck that the SUV he rear-ended belongs to a York City Police officer, according to Lt. Gene Fells, who supervises the city detective bureau.

It was Detective Andy Baez's day off on Saturday, June 30, and he was sitting at a red light on South George Street at the intersection of West College Avenue about 6:30 p.m., according to charging documents.

That's when he was rear-ended by a red Dodge Caliber driven by Tirado-Valdes, documents state.

The Dodge fled the scene, with Baez not far behind, police said.

"He followed from a safe distance and called one of the on-duty officers to respond," Fells said.

Baez watched as Tirado-Valdes parked the Dodge in the first block of West South Street, ran over to a storm drain at the corner of Lindberg Avenue and threw something down the drain, charging documents state.

Baez then reported what he saw to arriving patrol officers.

At left, York City Detective Andy Baez is hugged by nephew David Baez Jr. at the detective's September 2000 swearing-in ceremony. On Monday, June 11, 2018, the detective watched proudly as his nephew, now 26, took the officer's oath to become a York City police officer.

Firefighters summoned: Those patrol officers called in York City firefighters, who helped police retrieve the item thrown down the storm drain, which turned out to be a scale with marijuana residue on it, charging documents allege.

After being arrested, Tirado-Valdes admitted he smoked pot prior to driving, admitted he ditched the scale and told officers he has never had a valid driver's license, according to documents.

Tirado-Valdes, 19, of the first block of West Maple Street, remains in York County Prison on $2,500 bail.

He is charged with driving under the influence, hit and run, possession of drug paraphernalia, tampering with physical evidence, careless driving and driving without a license.

Baez escaped serious injury, according to Fells.

"He's fine," the lieutenant said.

It's unclear whether Tirado-Valdes has retained an attorney.

— Reach Liz Evans Scolforo at levans@yorkdispatch.com or on Twitter at @LizScolforoYD.