3 Officers Hurt in Altercation With Alleged Drunk Driver

One officer and two Riverdale police officers were transported to Chilton Memorial Hospital Thursday evening, along with the driver of a grey Volkswagen who allegedly injured the officers during an altercation after being stopped on Route 23 just after 5:30 p.m.

Butler Police Lt. Mike Moeller said a call came in from the Riverdale Police Department that the driver, Willy Bezares, of Garfield, had struck two vehicles in Riverdale and had fled the scene. Butler police saw the driver, who Moeller said was in his early 20s, cut through the parking lot of before taking the Morse Avenue U-turn and heading south on Route 23.

Moeller said Butler police followed the car with their lights on indicating he should pull over for about half-mile before the car finally came to a stop in Riverdale. When Bezares stopped the car, police said he allegedly exited the vehicle and got into a physical altercation with police.

Moeller said he could only comment on the injured Butler police officer, Ptl. Jorge Reyes, and said that Reyes had complained of pain in his elbow and had sustained injuries to his right shoulder. The driver had a cut on his forehead, Moeller said, but he was unsure of other injuries. Moeller said alcohol was a factor in the incident.

Bezares will not be charged in , Moeller said, but charges are pending with the Riverdale Police Department.