Two Minersville Police Patrol vehicles were damaged last month after they were struck by drivers suspected of driving under the influence.
According to Minersville Police, the first incident occurred on Monday, July 18th, 2022 around 11:45pm in the parking lot of the Fuel Up gas station.
Police Officer Michael Layton-Herron reports that while he was parking in the lot of the gas station, a Ford F-150, being driven by Jarrod Ruscavage, 39, of Minersville was backing out of a parking spot and struck the patrol vehicle.
When questioned, Ruscavage appeared to be disheveled, sweating, moving slow, and had bloodshot eyes. When asked if he was drinking, Ruscavage stated he "probably had a couple of beers".
The patrol vehicle sustained damage to the passenger side quarter panel.
The second incident occurred 5 days later on Saturday, July 23rd, 2022 when Officer Timothy Walsh was investigating smoke conditions on South 3rd Street just before 9:00pm.
Officer Walsh reports that he had just put his patrol vehicle in park when he looked in the rear view mirror and noticed a Ford Escape coming up from behind way too fast. Walsh put the vehicle in drive to avoid the collision but was rear-ended.
The driver, Charles Stablum, 56, of Pottsville was transported by the Pennsylvania State Police for blood work.
The patrol vehicle sustained damage to the rear.
Both incidents were handed over to the Pennsylvania State Police for further investigation.