Former PA Fire Chief Charged with Driving into a Fire Police Officer

A former Newport Twp. fire chief was arraigned Tuesday on aggravated assault charges alleging he drove his vehicle into a fire police officer who was blocking traffic at the scene of a fire last year.

Daniel J. Kowalski, 58, is accused of striking Capt. Fredrick Kraft in the knee and leg as he drove into a restricted area down the street from his home at 158 Alden Mountain Road.

According to the complaint, Kraft had been directed to stop all northbound traffic as firefighters worked the scene of a blaze at 130 Alden Mountain Road the afternoon of Dec. 12.

When he was stopped at the roadblock, Kowalski grew upset that other vehicles had been allowed to proceed before him and felt there was no reason for him to have been stopped, police allege. Kowalski began arguing and cursing at Kraft, threatening to punch him through the car window, police said.

Kraft went over to a police officer to report the situation, and Kowalski then drove through the fire scene and crossed into the opposing lane, striking Kraft's knee and leg, police said.

The complaint alleges there were no obstacles in the area that would have forced Kowalski to change lanes.

A visibly upset Kowalski pulled up to the officer Kraft had been approaching, explaining he felt he had been selectively stopped and that he had only "brushed" the fire police officer, according to the complaint.

Police charged Kowalski with a felony count of aggravated assault, misdemeanor counts of simple assault and disorderly conduct, and several summary traffic infractions, including failing to obey an authorized person directing traffic.

Magisterial District Judge Joseph A. Halesey arraigned Kowalski on the charges Tuesday morning and released him on $10,000 unsecured bail.

Kowalski was already free on $5,000 unsecured bail in another case Newport Twp. police filed against him earlier this year, also for allegedly becoming disorderly at the scene of a fire.

In that case, police allege Kowalski began yelling at a firefighter atop a fire truck at the scene of a blaze at 1010 W. Main Ave. the afternoon of Jan. 22. Kowalski refused to leave the area, saying he was on a public sidewalk and was free to stand there if he wanted, police allege.

Kowalski went on to push an officer's arm away as the officer tried to escort him from the area and refused to provide his name or identification, according to the charges.

When an officer tried to handcuff him, Kowalski grabbed a fence and refused to let go until he was threatened with a Taser, police allege.

Kowalski is charged with misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstructing emergency services in that case.

Attempts to reach Kowalski for comment Tuesday were unsuccessful.

Contact the writer: [email protected]; 570-821-2058

___

(c)2022 The Citizens' Voice (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.)

Visit The Citizens' Voice (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) at citizensvoice.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.