A former Minersville police officer who, along with his partner, is facing federal charges related to an alleged brutality incident back in 2022, was arrested recently for allegedly driving while drunk in Pottsville.
If he’s found guilty of DUI, it would violate the conditions of his release on bail in the federal case.
Court documents show State Police pulled over Richard Clink, 52, on Peacock St. in Pottsville on Aug. 31 at about 6:30 p.m. Police say they pulled over Clink’s gold Jeep Wrangler because its registration had expired at the end of July. The vehicle was also making sudden, erratic movements, police say.
As police approached the driver’s side window of the Jeep, a strong odor of alcohol was present, police say.
Behind the wheel, Clink reportedly said he was going to his friend’s house just down the road. When asked if he had had anything to drink, Clink allegedly hesitated but when Troopers noted that they could smell alcohol, he then allegedly admitted to recently drinking a half bottle of wine.
Troopers asked Clink to get out of his vehicle and join them at the front of their patrol vehicle. He reportedly needed to be told where to stand multiple times.
After conducting Field Sobriety Tests on Clink, Troopers say they took him into custody on suspicion of DUI.
Clink refused testing and was taken back to his home in Minersville and released. Police filed charges on Sept. 10 of DUI, a misdemeanor, and driving with an expired registration, a summary offense.
If he’s found guilty of DUI, Clink will have violated conditions of his release on bail in a federal case in which he’s accused of deprivation of rights and filing false reports.
Clink and his former partner on the Minersville police force back on Feb. 2, 2022, Harry Brown, allegedly used excessive force when they beat a man in the street after pulling him over in a traffic stop.
An eyewitness video purportedly shows Brown and Clink working over the suspect, tasing him several times and punching him about the body and head.
The two officers then filed false reports on the incident, a federal indictment alleges.
Brown and Clink were swiftly removed from their jobs on the Minersville force. They’d found new employment as Chief (Brown) and patrolman (Clink) in the Mahanoy Township Police Dept. Each was suspended after the federal indictment against them was handed down.
Their trial on the federal charges, barring any more continuances, is scheduled to begin on Nov. 10 in Scranton.
Clink is free on bail awaiting his trial. Conditions of his bail include not violating any federal, state, or local laws. US District Judge Karoline Mehalchick amended conditions of Clink’s bail on July 18, ordering him to avoid alcohol entirely.
If convicted of DUI, Clink could potentially be sent to prison to await trial.
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Dex
October 2, 2025 at 9:05 am
It’s funny the supposed “accusations” and “video” failed to show how the scumbag was acting prior to the alleged assault. He assaulted the police first! They used an equal, legal amount of force to make the arrest.
Sir John
October 7, 2025 at 8:42 pm
Actually if they detected an odor of alcohol, they must have skipped that training…. alcohol doesn’t have an odor, si they couldn’t detect an “odor of alcohol”