I know I already have a “Bumblefuck” category but at the rate our news is going, I might need a whole Bumblefuck blog (story 1, story 2)
When fire ripped through a Johnstown apartment building last week, 14-year-old Dalton Felton was hailed as a hero for helping to evacuate residents. Now he is charged with setting that blaze.
City police Chief Craig Foust said the boy allegedly was playing with gasoline Wednesday in the basement of the building where he lived. “We believe he was lighting a glove,” Foust said.
Eight people were inside the structure when the fire began; all escaped safely. Despite a massive response by city firefighters, the building was consumed by flames and eventually collapsed. Investigators initially were concerned that they would not be able to pinpoint a cause because of extensive damage at the scene.
Officials were able to determine that the blaze wasn’t caused by an electrical malfunction or a heating unit, Foust said. Interviews led police to the boy, who allegedly has a history of playing with fire. The teen is charged with arson, causing a catastrophe and reckless endangerment.
And then…
Chief Kevin Stanek, 48, of Northern Cambria could face charges including DUI, aggravated assault and interfering with police stemming from an incident early Saturday morning. Susquehanna Township police Officer Ronald Schilling said he and Stanek got into a confrontation after Schilling made a traffic stop involving Stanek’s stepson, Greg Kline of Susquehanna Township.
Schilling said that, after warning Stanek three times, he “blasted him” with pepper spray. “He still didn’t stop (coming at me), so I gave him more,” he said. “I was finally able to subdue him.”
Schilling said Monday that charges against the men have not yet been filed at District Judge Michael Zungali’s office in Hastings. Schilling said he is waiting to speak to Cambria County District Attorney Patrick Kiniry to determine whether a conflict of interest exists because Stanek [the police chief] is [also] a township supervisor – technically, Schilling’s [the arresting officer's] boss. Charges are expected to be filed later [hahahahaha -- oh, I almost believe that]
Schilling said he stopped Kline [the stepson] on Moss Creek Road under suspicion of DUI, then called for assistance from Northern Cambria Borough police when Kline began to resist arrest. But instead of on-duty Officer Amanda Fox, Schilling said Stanek [the borough police chief] arrived at the scene, driving the borough’s unmarked police cruiser. [So I wonder if Fox told him or he was just listening on the scanner, which is far more likely. Do I need to explain the "listening on the scanner" phenomenon?]
“(Stanek) accused me of trying to make a name for myself and kept getting in my face,” Schilling said. “He made physical contact with me and kept coming at me, and I kept telling him to stop.”
State police responded to the incident at [police chief] Stanek’s request, [arresting officer] Schilling said.
Schilling said Stanek took a Breathalyzer test but refused a blood-alcohol test at Miners Medical Center in Hastings. Breathalyzer tests are not admissible in court, and refusing a blood-alcohol test results in a one-year driver’s license suspension, Schilling said. He said Stanek’s Breathalyzer result was 0.19 percent, more than twice the legal limit. Kline’s blood-alcohol content was 0.246.
At Northern Cambria Borough’s regular meeting on Monday, council did not discuss the incident. [If I had been the reporter covering that meeting, I sure as shit would have brought it up, especially with the guy being a township supervisor.] Mayor Gennaro Cantalupo, who is in charge of the borough police force, would not say whether [Chief] Stanek remained on the force. “Everyone is innocent until proven guilty,” he said. “I can’t say anything else.” [Oh, this Schilling guy is out on his ass, I know it. If I were him, I'd just start looking for a job right now. They're not going to get rid of a chief/supervisor. I'd be surprised if anything happens to him.]
Fellow Supervisor Jody Stanick said he was shocked to hear of the incident when he returned from a weekend trip. “It’s a shame because, since Kevin has been in office, he has been thorough and on top of things,” Stanick said. “He has a lot of knowledge and resources. … I’m surprised. Everybody makes mistakes, and he’s under a lot of pressure with his job, and as a supervisor.” [Ah, I smell a "no charges" coming out of this. We're ALL under pressure. Doesn't give us the right to (1) drive around drunk and (2) go after cops]
Stanek has been a member of the borough’s police force for more than 20 years.
ETA, 4/17:
Charges filed against township supervisor/police chief
HASTINGS — Charges against Northern Cambria Borough police Chief Kevin Stanek and his stepson, Greg Kline, were filed today in District Judge Michael Zungali’s office as a result of a weekend altercation with Susquehanna Township police Officer Ronald Schilling.
Stanek, 48, was charged with aggravated assault and terroristic threats, both felonies; resisting arrest and hindering apprehension or prosecution, both second-degree misdemeanors; DUI and summary harassment.
Kline, 31, was charged with terroristic threats, resisting arrest and two charges of DUI.
According to a clerk at Zungali’s office, no preliminary hearing date has been set because of a change of venue due to a potential conflict of interest.
Leave a Reply