Renovo fire chief accepted into ARD program in Cameron County Court

EMPORIUM, PA – Renovo Fire Chief Jim Risley, charged with DUI for allegedly operating an ambulance while under the influence in January, has been accepted into the Cameron County ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition) Program. His court appearance took place on April 19. He was placed into ARD on a motion from Cameron County District Attorney Paul Malizia and accepted by Judge Shawn McMahon.

As explained to The Record, acceptance into ARD means any Risley criminal record related to the incident would be expunged upon successful completion of the program. A Cameron County official told The Record that the January incident also meant that Risley has lost his drivers license for one year, explaining that is a PennDOT regulation imposed when an arrestee refuses to take a blood test at the time of the incident.

Risley, 64, had been arrested by state police in Cameron County on Jan. 26 while making an ambulance call to First Fork Road in rural Cameron County. Information at the time said Risley was driving the ambulance to a hospital in St. Marys and state police said they observed the ambulance cross the center line 27 times, the white line 10 times and into the other lane three times.

Police information said the officer conducted a field sobriety test, Risley then transported to Penn Highlands Elk hospital. According to police, he refused to have his blood drawn for a blood alcohol test.