Driver Held After Car Hits Officer

A Canoga Park man has been arrested after knocking down a policeman with a sports car, then speeding off as the officer shot at the car with his revolver, Los Angeles police said Wednesday.

Stanley Sczerbaty, 40, was arrested about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer after seeking medical attention for a foot injury at Northridge Hospital Medical Center, Detective Russ Lyons said.

Sczerbaty was taken to the County-USC Medical Center jail ward and held in lieu of $300,000 bail, Lyons said.

The officer, Ted Yurek, who suffered minor injuries, had stopped two cars on Lindley Avenue near Roscoe Boulevard in Northridge after observing them in a “speed contest” about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sgt. Ron Barnes said.

Yurek obtained identification from one driver, but the driver of the second car accelerated as the officer approached, striking him in the left leg, Barnes said. Yurek fired once, hitting the car, which struck a fire hydrant before speeding away, Barnes said. The car was later found abandoned a short distance away.

Barnes said the driver of the first car will not be cited.