Pa. Fire Chief Assaulted at Crash Scene

Dec. 31, 2013
A Bedford County fire chief suffered a broken nose when he was punched by a motorist involved in a car crash. He also suffered a broken finger and back pain.

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.

Copyright 2013 - The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, Pa.

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