Cop admits getting upset over girlfriend’s arrest

The officer says the arrest could have been handled
differently.

WARREN — A Warren police officer who got into a confrontation with a Liberty police officer over the arrest of his girlfriend in October admits he let his emotions “control my mouth.”

The admission is part of a three-page statement Sgt. Dan Hudak wrote as part of an internal affairs investigation of the matter.

The results of the investigation were made public by Warren Safety/Service Director William “Doug” Franklin this week. In it, Lt. Joseph Marhulik wrote that. Hudak violated the Warren Police Department’s policies and procedures requiring him to be respectful to other officers, commanders, supervisors, subordinates or citizens.

Marhulik began to investigate shortly after the Oct. 21 incident and completed the review Nov. 22.

Other parts of Hudak’s statement questioned why the Liberty officer couldn’t have handled the matter differently.

Liberty Patrol Officer George Bednar reported that he stopped a car around 1:30 a.m. Oct. 21 at True North gas station, 3990 Belmont Ave., because the vehicle owner, Cynthia Rogers, was wanted by Niles police on a forgery charge.

Hudak’s statement says he doesn’t understand why their vehicle was pulled over in the first place, because Bednar did not indicate there had been any traffic violation committed. Rogers and Hudak were passengers in the car.

Hudak wrote that from talking with Rogers, it appeared that the warrant was based on a complaint by his girlfriend’s ex-husband that may have been in retaliation for her seeking an increase in child support. Hudak said he asked whether Rogers could turn herself in to the court the following Monday morning, but Bednar refused.

Hudak said he told Bednar, “I have been a police officer a long time and know that it would be possible to handle this matter differently.”

Hudak added, “The officer was not willing to take any of this into consideration, and I did become upset by this.”

At the Niles Police Department, Hudak said he had several heated exchanges with Bednar, but “at no time did I attempt to interfere with the officer doing his job.”

Bednar had reported that he was interviewing Rogers, 35, of Potomac Road, Niles, when Hudak interfered and give him a bad time.

Bednar reported that Hudak wanted Rogers released to him. Bednar said that when he refused, Hudak became belligerent.

Later at the Niles Police Department, Bednar reported, Hudak and two friends met him, and Hudak again became combative.

Marhulik’s investigation determined that there were no references to improper conduct by the two other occupants of the car with Hudak, Warren patrolman Michael Stabile or Warren communications officer Michelle Stevens.