Injured policeman remains off duty

A Coaldale police officer injured in the line of duty Tuesday remains off work and in a lot of pain, Police Chief Tim Delaney said early Thursday.

Sgt. Keith Krapf was injured by Ian Patrick McGregor, 25, of 110 E. High St. as Krapf and Officer Charles Andrew Blesse were trying to get McGregor into the back of a police cruiser. McGregor, according to a police report, was combative, elbowing and kicking the officers. Krapf was taken to St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital, Coaldale, after McGregor allegedly kicked or elbowed him in the ribs, injuring him so badly he was unable to walk.

The officers stopped McGregor's car after McGregor was spotted driving erratically and almost hit Krapf's cruiser head-on.

McGregor is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, harassment, failing to drive on the right side of the highway, meeting vehicle proceeding in the opposite direction, overtaking a vehicle on the right, careless driving and failure to use restraint systems.