Dec. 31--FAIRHOPE -- A Bedford County fire chief had his nose broken when he was punched by a motorist involved in a car crash, authorities said.
State police from the Somerset barracks said Hyndman fire Chief Ronald Spiker Jr. was assisting at a crash scene at 2:10 a.m. Sunday along Fairhope Road in Fairhope Township when he was confronted by an angry man.
In a criminal complaint, troopers said Spiker became involved in an argument with Michael Anthony Sutphin, 22.
"At which point (Sutphin) punched Spiker in the face," troopers said.
A physical conflict followed, forcing firefighters to intervene, troopers said.
Spiker was taken to Cumberland Memorial Hospital in Maryland with a broken nose, broken finger and back pain.
Sutphin, of the 300 block of Schellsburg Street, Hyndman, was charged with aggravated assault and harassment.
Sutphin was arraigned Sunday by on-call District Judge Susan Mankamyer of Boswell and released on $25,000 unsecured bond.
Spiker could not be reached Monday. No telephone listing was found for Michael Sutphin.
Patrick Buchnowski is a reporter with The Tribune-Democrat. Follow him on twitter.com/PatBuchnowskiTD.
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