Police Officer Hit By Alleged Drunk Driver

CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio  –  A Cuyahoga Falls policeman was injured while assisting a fellow officer on a suspected drunk driving stop.  Police say the injured officer was actually hit by another suspected drunk driver.

Cuyahoga Falls Sgt. Gary Merton, Jr. said  29-year-old Kimberly Stumpf, of Akron, was driving on Portage Trail around 2:20 a.m. Sunday when she caused the accident. “Any time you have police cars behind motorists that are stopped with the lights flashing, it tends to draw attention,” Sgt. Merton, Jr. said.

The officer was back-up to another policeman on a different drunk driving stop at the time.  Sgt. Merton, Jr. said the assisting officer was between two parked cruisers when Stumpf rammed her vehicle into the police car. It moved forward, striking the officer. “All it takes is a split second to be distracted, especially if you have been drinking,” Sgt. Merton, Jr. said.

Police say Stumpf’s blood alcohol level was .233, which is nearly three times the legal limit. She was not hurt. The injured officer was treated at the hospital and released.

Sgt. Merton, Jr. said Stumpf has been charged with OVI, but she could face additional charges since the accident she caused injured a police officer.