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By BONNIE ADAMS bonnie@leader.net
Thursday, February 03, 2000 Page: 3A
EATON TWP. – An intoxicated employee wrestled a muffler store manager to
the floor and threw tires and oil filters around the garage before injuring
three troopers later at the barracks, state police said.
Police said Ronald J. Chesla Sr., 35, faces aggravated assault and other
charges after he injured the officers as they tried to restrain him Tuesday
evening.
One trooper was treated for a cut finger and possible dislocated elbow;
another had a hand injury; the third suffered numerous bruises and abrasions.
Chesla was arraigned Tuesday night before District Justice Russell
Shurtleff in Factoryville on charges of aggravated assault, resisting arrest,
criminal mischief, harassment, public drunkenness, drunken driving and
disorderly conduct. He is in the Wyoming County Jail for lack of $30,000 bail
while awaiting his preliminary hearings.
According to the arrest affidavits:
Witnesses at Monro Muffler on state Route 29 said Chesla, of North Bridge
Street, drove his pickup truck through two snow banks in the parking lot. When
store manager Dan Bell offered Chesla, who worked at the store, a ride home,
Chesla banged on the store windows, came inside and tackled Bell. The two
struggled for several minutes.
After a state trooper arrived and was talking with Bell, Chesla threw
tires, oil filters and other items around the work area, then went outside and
fell into the snow.
Chesla appeared drunk, cursed at the trooper and refused to cooperate. Two
more state police troopers arrived and one used pepper spray on Chesla. Police
took Chesla to Tyler Memorial Hospital, where he refused a blood-alcohol test
or other treatment. A doctor asked police to remove Chesla after the man swore
loudly at emergency room personnel.
At the state police barracks, Chesla refused to sit down and lunged at a
corporal. The officer and two other troopers were injured as all three subdued
Chesla.