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  never get into a car wreck with a cop!!! you will be charged with "aggravated assault on a police officer"

Original Article

Injured police officer in serious condition

Lindsey Collom The Arizona Republic Jun. 18, 2005 11:00 AM

GLENDALE - A Glendale police officer injured in a collision while responding to a call is in serious condition today.

Officer Steve Kulb, 27, is being treated at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center for injuries he sustained in the Friday wreck.

The accident occurred about 10:15 p.m. near 60th Avenue and Bethany Home Road. Police say Kulb was driving westbound on Bethany Home with a police observer when an eastbound Ford Excursion turned in front of the cruiser.

Witnesses pulled Kulb from the vehicle and restrained the Excursion driver, 35-year-old Jorge Rodriguez, until police arrived.

The police observer and two other people in the Excursion were taken to area hospitals for treatment of minor injuries. Rodriguez was unharmed.

He was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault on a police officer and three counts of endangerment.

Investigators found open cans of beer in the Excursion and believe Rodriguez was intoxicated at the time of the accident. Officers obtained a search warrant to draw blood after he purportedly refused to undergo sobriety tests. Blood test results are pending.

Reach the reporter at lindsey.collom@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-7983.