Trooper, EMT assaulted
A New York man was arrested Wednesday night at the Pilot Truck Stop in Bentleyville after he allegedly assaulted a state trooper and emergency medical technician.
Vadim Mikhailovich Kireichev, 51, of Pleasantville, is accused of assaulting Trooper Jerry Cooley and EMT Jacob Welch.
Police were called just before 9 p.m. for a disturbance at the truck stop. Police contacted Kireichev, who was in the sleeper of his truck. He claimed he was injured when he fell off his truck.
An ambulance crew responded to treat Kireichev. Cooley, who arrived as a back up, and others were discussing how to get Kireichev out of the truck with a back injury. Kireichev got out of the truck on the passenger side. He then allegedly elbowed Welch and ran toward Cooley. He then allegedly punched the trooper on the neck with a left hook, police said. Kireichev was then taken into custody.
He was arraigned before District Judge Jay Weller on two counts each of aggravated assault, harassment and simple assault. He was placed in the Washington County jail on $10,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 19 before District Judge Curtis Thompson.