`super Conference' Needs Adjustments To Serve All Teams 
When The Wyoming Valley West Swimming Team Destroys Scranton Prep, There Is No 
Blood In The Water.

4th Suit Filed Against City's `impact' Team

By JOE HEALEY; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Sunday, January 18, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





LARKSVILLE- A borough police officer was injured apprehending a man who
allegedly fled a sobriety checkpoint early Saturday, say police. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Officer Chris Matello sustained minor injuries in a tussle with Michael
Daniel Hmel, 32, of Lyndwood Avenue, Hanover Township, police said. Matello
was treated at Penn State Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains
Township and released. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Police gave this account of the incident: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hmel was southbound on U.S. Route 11 when he approached a sobriety
checkpoint conducted by the Larksville police. He was traveling at a high rate
of speed in a gold Buick. Police attempted to stop the car, but Hmel continued
through the checkpoint. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Police dispatched two cruisers to stop him. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hmel pulled over at Route 11 and Bridge Street in Plymouth and an officer
repeatedly told him to turn off his vehicle. As the officer approached Hmel's
car, Hmel attempted to run him down. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hmel then fled the scene toward Hanover Township. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After a low-speed chase, Hmel abandoned his vehicle at Lyndwood and Fellows
avenues. They chased him on foot for a short distance. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After a brief struggle, Hmel was apprehended. He refused to take a
blood-alcohol test at Wilkes-Barre General hospital. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He was charged with three counts each of simple assault and aggravated
assault and one count each of drunken driving, fleeing or attempting to elude
a police officer, resisting arrest, and reckless endangerment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He was arraigned before District Justice Michael Collins of Wilkes-Barre
and taken to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $20,000
bail. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hmel was on probation from a previous DUI arrest, a spokesman for the
prison said. That probation was revoked. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Officer Injured Enforcing Dui Checkpoint A Hanover Township Man Was Sent To The County Prison Saturday After Allegedly Fleeing Police