Police officer struck by dirt bike
A Donegal Township man was arrested Saturday by township police after he allegedly hit an officer with his dirt bike the previous day.
Darrell L. Rogers, 44, of 19 Staley Road, is accused of striking Officer Michael Natale and the door to a township police cruiser Friday as the officer was getting out to try to stop the Donegal man as he drove past on the dirt bike.
Police received a call from Rogers’ estranged wife, who said he had their 12-year-old on the dirt bike with him while he was intoxicated, and that the boy was not wearing a helmet or any other protective gear.
Natale positioned the cruiser on Staley near Rogers’ home and waited for him to return. A trooper notified Natale that he had spotted Rogers going north on Route 231 and that Rogers fled when he tried to stop him.
Rogers was then seen approaching his home on Staley.
When Natale activated his emergency lights and started to get out of the cruiser, Rogers allegedly accelerated the dirt bike, hitting the door on the cruiser and Natale, knocking him to the ground. Natale said he got up and tried to chase Rogers on foot, to no avail.
When police talked to Rogers the following day, they said he admitted to consuming alcohol.
Rogers was arraigned Saturday before District Judge Curtis Thompson on charges of aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, fleeing or eluding police, driving an unregistered vehicle, operating a dirt bike on the road and driving under the influence of alcohol.
He was released on $25,000 unsecured bond.
Rogers is scheduled for a Sept. 15 preliminary hearing before District Judge Ethan Ward.