An attorney accused of smuggling drugs into the Allegheny County Jail is facing a new charge related to an alleged hit-and-run in a Pittsburgh parking garage.

Pittsburgh police on Tuesday charged Paul Gettleman, 74, of Perry Township, Lawrence County, with causing an accident involving damage to an attended vehicle, a misdemeanor.

A woman told Pittsburgh police the crash happened Dec. 13, the day after a grand jury presentment was unsealed charging Gettleman with providing contraband, conspiracy, drug delivery and other crimes related to an alleged scheme to smuggle synthetic cannabinoids into Allegheny County Jail. The woman said she was driving in the First Avenue Garage near Pittsburgh Municipal Court. The car ahead of her, a black Audi, was driving erratically and repeatedly slammed its brakes, she told police.

The man driving the Audi then put the car in reverse, backing into the woman’s SUV and causing minor damage, according to an affidavit. The Audi driver got out of his car, stared briefly at the woman, checked his car for damage and then drove off without talking to her, the affidavit said.

The Audi was registered to Gettleman, and the woman identified Gettleman as its driver out of a photo lineup, the affidavit said.

Gettleman did not immediately return a call for comment Thursday morning.

A preliminary hearing for the hit-and-run is scheduled for Feb. 3 at Pittsburgh Municipal Court. A preliminary hearing for the contraband charges is scheduled for Jan. 17.

Gettleman allegedly worked with inmates and their acquaintances to smuggle drug-infused paper into the jail, which could be smoked.

Gettleman allegedly made between $500 and $1,000 for delivering the drugs, according to court documents.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)