St. Charles officer suffers facial injury in assault

ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- A St. Charles police officer is recovering after being struck in the head while making an arrest, police said Monday. The name of the officer was not released. The suspect, Kenneth G. Wacker, 33, of Maryland Heights was charged with second-degree assault of a law enforcement officer and felony resisting arrest. He was being held in the St. Charles County Jail. Police said the officer stopped the suspect Saturday for running a stop sign. During a computer check, the officer discovered Wacker had outstanding warrants in St. Louis County. As Wacker was being placed in handcuffs, he struck the officer's head, fracturing bones in his face, police said. Wacker then ran to a nearby tavern, where he was captured a short time later after again resisting arrest, police said. The officer was treated at a hospital and released.