Confrontation between 2 officers investigated

A Liberty policeman reported that a Warren officer wanted him to release his girlfriend.

By TIM YOVICH

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

NILES — Police Chief Bruce Simeone has initiated an internal investigation to find out why at least one of his officers didn’t immediately break up a confrontation between two other officers, from Liberty and Warren.

The chief said Friday that the investigation concerns the actions of one and perhaps two of his officers the morning of Oct. 21.

“They are supposed to get involved, especially when it involves police officers,” Simeone said of the confrontation between Liberty Patrol Officer George Bednar and Warren police Sgt. Dan Hudak.

Warren police also are conducting an internal investigation concerning Hudak’s actions that morning.

Hudak did not return a message left for him seeking a comment.

According to Bednar’s report, he stopped a car shortly before 1:30 a.m. at True North gas station at 3990 Belmont Ave. because the vehicle owner, Cynthia Rogers, was wanted by Niles police on a forgery charge.

He reported that he was interviewing Rogers, 35, of Potomac Road, Niles, when her boyfriend, Hudak, started to interfere and give him a bad time.

Bednar reported that Hudak identified himself as a Warren police officer and said that he wanted Rogers released to him — and that he would “take care of the warrant.” Bednar said that when he refused, Hudak became belligerent.

Bednar said he drove Rogers to the Liberty Police Department and booked her.

Because Niles police were too busy to pick up Rogers in Liberty, Bednar drove her to the Niles Police Department.

Once there, Bednar reported, Hudak and some of his friends met him, and Hudak again became combative because Rogers had been arrested and handcuffed.

A verbal argument continued, and Hudak ripped off his shirt wanting to fight Bednar. A Niles police officer intervened, and Bednar and Rogers were taken into the police station.

The internal Warren police investigation began four days later after Simeone and Liberty Police Chief Anthony Slifka faxed information concerning Hudak’s actions to Warren police.

“These two chief[s] of police are concerned with Sgt. Hudak’s action and how it reflects on the Warren Police Department and law enforcement here in Trumbull County,” Warren police Capt. Tim Bowers wrote in a memo to Warren police Lt. Joseph Marhulik to begin the investigation.

yovich@vindy.com