Published: October 19, 2009 11:29 pm      

Windber officer injured in tussle with DUI suspect

WINDBER — A Windber police officer was injured during a scuffle with an alleged drunken driver, authorities said.

Officer John Rice said in a court document that he stopped a vehicle driven by Bradley Ryan Stofko, 22, in Scalp Level Borough around 1:30 a.m. Friday. Stofko, of the 400 block of St. Clair Road in Johnstown, was pulled over on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

After a brief struggle, Rice said Stofko was taken into custody on Main Street at Coat Drive in Scalp Level.

“I believe some of my ribs are broken,” Rice said.

He is expected to be evaluated by a physician today, said Rick Skiles, Windber officer in charge.

Stofko was taken to Windber Medical Center, where tests showed his blood alcohol level was 0.257 percent.

Stofko then was transported to the Windber police department for processing, but he refused to enter the building, police said.

He was stunned with a Taser and taken inside by two officers.

Stofko was charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, driving under the influence of alcohol, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

He was arraigned by District Judge Michael Musulin of Johnstown and freed on an unsecured $25,000 bond.