Man arrested after bumping Austintown police cruiser

AUSTINTOWN — Officers arrested a Lake Milton man after he bumped a police cruiser and nearly hit another early Saturday.

Officers were sent to the intersection of Meander Run and Backwater Cove about a truck in the middle of the road near a development with its bright lights on, as well, with a male possibly slumped over the steering wheel.

After repeated attempts, Matthew Hospodar, 27, of Whisper Lane, woke up, looked at the officer and smiled as he took his foot off the brake and ran into the front bumper guard of the police car, a report said.

Hospodar then put the car in reverse, nearly hitting another police car behind him, then proceeded to laugh as he attempted again drive forward, turning the steering wheel.

The officer, who gave several commands to stop the vehicle, broke out the passenger window to stop it. Hospodar was arrested on charges of obstructing official business and operating a vehicle while impaired, and also issued a citation for OVI and failure to control.