Beaver County, PA man jailed for attacking cop and stealing police cruiser
By Tribune Review - Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Frank W. Pawelkowski, 37, of Ambridge, was charged with attacking New Florence Officer Michael Bandzej during a traffic stop on Sept. 25. An arrest affidavit states that Bandzej pulled him over because of a burned-out headlamp on his vehicle.
Judge Richard E. McCormick Jr. handed down the five- to 10-year sentence on Tuesday, also ordering a five-year probation term to follow. Pawelkowski pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, theft, drunken driving, resisting arrest and criminal mischief in June.
Bandzej believed Pawelkowski to be drunk, and Pawelkowski was holding an open beer. Later, breath testing showed Pawelkowski to have a 0.117 blood-alcohol content, above the limit at which Pennsylvania motorists are considered intoxicated.
The affidavit states Pawelkowski responded to Bandzej by saying, "If I'm gonna go to jail I might as well kill ya."
Pawelkowski took off his shirt and began swinging, hitting Bandzej in the face. The officer retreated into the road as he drew his sidearm, but he was struck by an oncoming vehicle. Just before he was hit, Bandzej pepper-sprayed Pawelkowski.
Pawelkowski fled in Bandzej's cruiser, stopping near a mobile home park close to Laurel Valley High School. When he got out of the car, Pawelkowski tried to load a police-owned 12-gauge shotgun. The pepper spray began to overcome him, the affidavit states, and he was taken into custody by another officer responding to a 911 call.
In addition to the prison time and probation, Pawelkowski was ordered to pay almost $135,000 in restitution for damage and medical costs.
He was given credit for time served since Sept. 26.