Published: April 14, 2008 11:53 pm      

Police chief may face assault, DUI charges

NORTHERN CAMBRIA — The borough’s police chief, elected last year as a Susquehanna Township supervisor, may face charges after an alleged weekend altercation with another police officer.

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 is a township supervisor – technically, Schilling’s boss. Charges are expected to be filed later.

Schilling said he stopped Kline 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 arrived at the scene, driving the borough’s unmarked police cruiser.

“(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.”

Stanek did not return telephone messages from The Tribune-Democrat for comment.

State police responded to the incident at Stanek’s request, 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.

Stanek was released into the custody of his wife.

At Northern Cambria Borough’s regular meeting on Monday, council did not discuss the incident.

Mayor Gennaro Cantalupo, who is in charge of the borough police force, would not say whether Stanek remained on the force.

“Everyone is innocent until proven guilty,” he said. “I can’t say anything else.”

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.”

Stanek has been a member of the borough’s police force for more than 20 years.