Police say man asked them for alcohol during traffic stop
A Butler man allegedly asked police if they had any alcohol during a traffic stop over the weekend, then later squandered his chances to face fewer charges.
Brian J. Vlassich, 40, was arrested and charged Sunday night. He was arraigned Monday and placed in Butler County Prison in lieu of $15,000 bail.
According to court documents, Vlassich initially was arrested on suspicion of DUI, but later charges of resisting arrest and institutional vandalism were added.
City police said their encounter with Vlassich started around 9 p.m. Sunday when they received a call about a truck on South Washington Street blocking Quarry Street. Police said Vlassich was standing by the open, driver-side door of his truck with the key in the ignition.
“I asked Vlassich what was wrong, and he mumbled something, and asked if I had any alcohol,” said the investigating officer.Police said Vlassich then drew their attention to an empty beer can in the truck bed. When they asked for his identification, he began aggressively — laced with expletives — refusing to identify himself and cooperate, according to police. Police arrested him under suspicion of DUI.“Once the tow truck driver arrived on scene, he advised that the truck was out of gas, which is why it would not start,” police said.The night could have ended there, but police said Vlassich continued to resist them at every stop, which included the state police barracks in Butler.Documents stated officers took Vlassich to the barracks for a breathalyzer, which he later refused. Police reported that during the interactions, Vlassich kicked nearby tables and cabinets.Police said Vlassich also resisted in other ways, including refusing to walk.“While escorting Vlassich out of the barracks, he stopped at the door and would not walk,” police said. “Vlassich had to be assisted out of the barrack's front door and to (a) patrol vehicle.”According to police, Vlassich also refused to do as he was told on multiple occasions, all the way up until he was placed in a holding cell at the city police station.According to documents, Vlassich flooded his cell twice, and both times, officers had to intervene.“Vlassich placed the blue bed mat in the toilet and began flushing it repeatedly to flood the cell,” police said. “A short time later, Vlassich placed his foot in the toilet and flushed it repeatedly again to flood the cell.”Police said when officers intervened the second time, Vlassich grabbed water out of the toilet and threw it on officers.Police are seeking $100 restitution for the cleaning of the cell, in addition to the charges set against him.Vlassich is scheduled to appear in court June 21 for a preliminary hearing before District Judge William Fullerton.
