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Police: Woman struck officer with car
Suspect flees in West Hempfield Township, leading to chase
Intelligencer Journal
Lancaster New Era
Oct 27, 2009 00:03 EST
Columbia
By LARRY ALEXANDER, Staff Writer

A West Hempfield Township police officer sustained minor injuries as he attempted to arrest a burglary suspect who then fled the scene in her vehicle, leading to a chase, police said.

Officer Karl Hartranft was injured Monday as he tried to arrest Charlene P. Yurgaitis, 28, of Mountville, who was wanted by Ephrata police on a burglary warrant.

According to West Hempfield police, Hartranft spotted Yurgaitis driving a maroon Chevrolet Citation along Hempland Road near Donerville Road.

When Hartranft stopped Yurgaitis' car, the suspect became belligerent, police said. Her driver's-side door was open as Hartranft ordered her from the car.

As he tried to handcuff Yurgaitis, police said, she put the car in reverse and backed away. As she did, the vehicle struck Hartranft, knocking him to the ground.

Yurgaitis fled in her car, with officers in pursuit.

Stopping on Route 441 near Chickies Rock Park, Yurgaitis exited the vehicle and fled on foot into a wooded area, where police found her. She continued to struggle as she was taken into custody, they said.

Hartranft and Yurgaitis were taken to Lancaster Regional Medical Center, where they were treated for minor injuries and released.

Yurgaitis was charged with aggravated assault, escape, resisting arrest, recklessly endangering, fleeing or eluding and driving under suspension.

She was arraigned before District Judge Thomas Fee of Manheim and sent to Lancaster County Prison on $40,000 bail.

A male from Mountville was in the car with Yurgaitis. He was issued a summary citation for disorderly conduct and released.

lalexander@lnpnews.com


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Showing 5 most recent comments out of 18 total TalkBack comments about this article
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QUOTE (oif2vet @ Oct 28 2009, 02:49 PM)
our adult system is not about rehabilitation...it should be but it isnt
where do you get your information...other than your rear end?

Read the news. Keep your eyes and ears open and you'd be amazed what you'd find out. My head is not up my rear, but maybe you should pull your head out of yours.
Innocent
QUOTE (Innocent @ Oct 28 2009, 03:53 PM)
Read the news. Keep your eyes and ears open and you'd be amazed what you'd find out. My head is not up my rear, but maybe you should pull your head out of yours.


i do read the news, my eyes are open, hence I am typing and responding to your intelligent posts, i really have no control over opening or closing my ears and yes your head is very far up your rear...you are so blinded by your hatred for police, you always blame the LEO over the suspect....intelligent

QUOTE (Innocent @ Oct 27 2009, 09:06 PM)
That makes sense if she was resisting while still in the car. Some of the cops are afraid to use appropriate force because the same appropriate force has been used and abused by others in LE.

you take a story about a LEO being injured while doing his JOB and turn it around and blame the LEO...it does get old. If you think you can do a better job, apply... But my instinct tells me you probably did apply, were laughed at, and now hate the police because you could not make it.

Just my thoughts.

and good luck...hopefully you will soon hear a popping noise, which we all know will be the sound of your head coming out of your rea
oif2vet
QUOTE (oif2vet @ Oct 28 2009, 04:01 PM)
i do read the news, my eyes are open, hence I am typing and responding to your intelligent posts, i really have no control over opening or closing my ears and yes your head is very far up your rear...you are so blinded by your hatred for police, you always blame the LEO over the suspect....intelligent
you take a story about a LEO being injured while doing his JOB and turn it around and blame the LEO...it does get old. If you think you can do a better job, apply... But my instinct tells me you probably did apply, were laughed at, and now hate the police because you could not make it.

Just my thoughts.

and good luck...hopefully you will soon hear a popping noise, which we all know will be the sound of your head coming out of your rear


If you're talking about my post #11 to Save-the-land then maybe you should read his post because he made sense in it. There have been several LEO investigated for using inappropriate force with tasers, etc. Not all LEO are abusive. Or, didn't you realize that? Are you one that would stand there and watch abuse and not report it? You sound like you are. I only blame LE when they're wrong. They're not God, neither am I and neither are you.

No, I never applied for a position in LE. I saw too much crookedness and wouldn't want to be a part of it. I do know excellent LE, so I know the difference. The only popping noise to be heard will be the plopping sound made after the plunger sucks your head out of your rear because it's gotta be stuck up there good. Maybe it would help if I ever saw Lancaster County LE do something like upholding the law then I might feel differently. In the meantime, the US Marshalls have my respect for doing LEs job of getting the criminals off the steets. Now, they just need to get LEs favorites off the streets, which I have faith in will happen one day in the near future.
Innocent
QUOTE (Innocent @ Oct 28 2009, 06:16 PM)
If you're talking about my post #11 to Save-the-land then maybe you should read his post because he made sense in it. There have been several LEO investigated for using inappropriate force with tasers, etc. Not all LEO are abusive. Or, didn't you realize that? Are you one that would stand there and watch abuse and not report it? You sound like you are. I only blame LE when they're wrong. They're not God, neither am I and neither are you.

No, I never applied for a position in LE. I saw too much crookedness and wouldn't want to be a part of it. I do know excellent LE, so I know the difference. The only popping noise to be heard will be the plopping sound made after the plunger sucks your head out of your rear because it's gotta be stuck up there good. Maybe it would help if I ever saw Lancaster County LE do something like upholding the law then I might feel differently. In the meantime, the US Marshalls have my respect for doing LEs job of getting the criminals off the steets. Now, they just need to get LEs favorites off the streets, which I have faith in will happen one day in the near future.


whatever you say high speed. US Marshalls only job is to serve high risk federal warrants. Local Police deal with everything from crashes to homicide investigations. So if you are basing a good LEO vs. a bad LEO on the number of warrants they serve, you are obviously not as intelligent as you think you are. I see Lancaster LEO's upholding the law everyday...maybe you just need to open your eyes and ears.

im going to keep living my life so good luck...
oif2vet
QUOTE (oif2vet @ Oct 28 2009, 07:34 PM)
whatever you say high speed. US Marshalls only job is to serve high risk federal warrants. Local Police deal with everything from crashes to homicide investigations. So if you are basing a good LEO vs. a bad LEO on the number of warrants they serve, you are obviously not as intelligent as you think you are. I see Lancaster LEO's upholding the law everyday...maybe you just need to open your eyes and ears.

im going to keep living my life so good luck...


Ah yes, Lancaster LEOs are so good and that's why so many criminals are running the streets. You believe what you want and I'll believe what I've seen. US Marshall's have also busted some that weren't only Federal Warrants.

I never said I based good and bad LEOs on the number of warrants they serve. You either have selective reading or you enjoy adding to what you read. Go kiss a cop now and be happy.
Innocent
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