Gilberton police chief wounded by own gun during bar incident
Published: August 30, 2011
GIRARDVILLE - Gilberton's police chief was wounded by his own weapon late Saturday during an altercation while he was off duty at a Girardville bar, state police said Monday.
State police at Schuylkill Haven said Mark Kessler suffered a gunshot wound to the hand that required treatment at Saint Catherine Medical Center Fountain Springs.
State police said Monday they are still investigating the incident and many questions remained unanswered.
Schuylkill Haven commander Sgt. Steven J. Stinsky said Kessler was in the Second Street Pub when a scuffle broke out among several patrons. For reasons unknown to state police, Kessler got involved and at some point a pistol he was carrying discharged, shooting him in the hand.
"He got mixed up. Why, at this point, is still under investigation," Stinsky said.
Troopers were called from the Frackville station about 12:10 a.m. Sunday, but Stinsky said Kessler left the bar before they arrived and was taken to the hospital by a friend.
Kessler could not be reached for comment Monday.
Gilberton Mayor Mary Lou Hannon said Monday that Kessler will be on sick leave with the department until further notice.
She said Patrolman Daniel Holderman will fill in the shifts and another officer may be needed.
"Depending on how long he'll be off, we may hire someone on a part-time basis," she said.
The mayor said she could not comment on the investigation into the Girardville incident, only to say Kessler's injury is to his left hand and that he is in a lot of pain.
"There's nothing I can say since the state police are still doing their investigation," Hannon said.
Stinsky said Trooper John Sleboda, the lead investigator, was conducting interviews with bar patrons.
"The bar was packed," Stinsky said. "There's a lot of people to be interviewed."
When troopers arrived at the bar Saturday night, 20 to 25 people were gathered outside on Second Street.
Although Trooper Edward Lizewski of the Frackville station began the investigation, it was reassigned to Sleboda at the Schuylkill Haven station by Lt. Raymond Guth, a supervisor at Troop L Headquarters in Reading.
Stinsky said Guth asked Schuylkill Haven troopers to investigate the incident because since Kessler is a Gilberton officer, he sometimes works closely with troopers from Frackville.
Stinsky said more information would be released as it becomes available.
http://republicanherald.com/news/gilberton-police-chief-wounded-by-own-gun-during-bar-incident-1.1195323
State police at Schuylkill Haven said Mark Kessler suffered a gunshot wound to the hand that required treatment at Saint Catherine Medical Center Fountain Springs.
State police said Monday they are still investigating the incident and many questions remained unanswered.
Schuylkill Haven commander Sgt. Steven J. Stinsky said Kessler was in the Second Street Pub when a scuffle broke out among several patrons. For reasons unknown to state police, Kessler got involved and at some point a pistol he was carrying discharged, shooting him in the hand.
"He got mixed up. Why, at this point, is still under investigation," Stinsky said.
Troopers were called from the Frackville station about 12:10 a.m. Sunday, but Stinsky said Kessler left the bar before they arrived and was taken to the hospital by a friend.
Kessler could not be reached for comment Monday.
Gilberton Mayor Mary Lou Hannon said Monday that Kessler will be on sick leave with the department until further notice.
She said Patrolman Daniel Holderman will fill in the shifts and another officer may be needed.
"Depending on how long he'll be off, we may hire someone on a part-time basis," she said.
The mayor said she could not comment on the investigation into the Girardville incident, only to say Kessler's injury is to his left hand and that he is in a lot of pain.
"There's nothing I can say since the state police are still doing their investigation," Hannon said.
Stinsky said Trooper John Sleboda, the lead investigator, was conducting interviews with bar patrons.
"The bar was packed," Stinsky said. "There's a lot of people to be interviewed."
When troopers arrived at the bar Saturday night, 20 to 25 people were gathered outside on Second Street.
Although Trooper Edward Lizewski of the Frackville station began the investigation, it was reassigned to Sleboda at the Schuylkill Haven station by Lt. Raymond Guth, a supervisor at Troop L Headquarters in Reading.
Stinsky said Guth asked Schuylkill Haven troopers to investigate the incident because since Kessler is a Gilberton officer, he sometimes works closely with troopers from Frackville.
Stinsky said more information would be released as it becomes available.
http://republicanherald.com/news/gilberton-police-chief-wounded-by-own-gun-during-bar-incident-1.1195323
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