BETHLEHEM -- A Village of Bethlehem police officer is facing a trio of misdemeanors after a traffic crash last month, according to a criminal complaint filed in Ohio County Magistrate Court.
Rusty Jewell, of Ark Ave. in Wheeling, faces charges of false reporting, speed limitations and duty upon striking fixtures upon a highway. According to the complaint, Wheeling Police were called to S. Frazier Ave. shortly after midnight Aug. 27 to investigate a call of an alleged hit and run. When officers arrived they found two damaged mail boxes and a damaged utility pole.
Witnesses said they saw a dark SUV that had lost control making a right turn onto S. Frazier Ave., driving over the curb, hitting two mailboxes and a utility pole. One witness said he followed that dark SUV to Ark Ave., where he allegedly saw a man get out of the SUV, inspect the outside and head into the home.
One officer went to Ark Ave. to look for the SUV and found it, with Jewell standing near it. He asked Jewell if he had been driving recently and Jewell allegedly said he had and had hit a deer and wanted to report it.
The officer asked Jewell about the damage down the road and Jewell allegedly denied knowing anything about it.
When told that two witnesses saw an SUV matching his vehicle hit two mailboxes and a pole, Jewell allegedly again denied knowing about it. Officers noted in the complaint that there was no fur or blood on vehicle and that the damage to the front end was consistent with damage done on the scene.
According to the criminal complaint, officers noted that Jewell appeared to be "heavily intoxicated" during the interaction. An odor of alcohol was allegedly detected on his breath, his speech was slurred and his clothes disheveled. Jewell allegedly told Wheeling police officers that he was coming from the Cave Club, where he tends bar.
Bethlehem Mayor Aaron Snider said Tuesday that the village government was aware of the situation, and stressed that Jewell was not on duty at the time. Snider said that, due to it being an ongoing investigation by Wheeling Police, the village government had no further comment at this time.