CHP OFFICER HURT IN I-5 SCUFFLE; MOTORIST, PASSENGER JAILED.

Byline: Orith Goldberg Staff Writer

A Highway Patrol officer suffered a broken hand, and another sustained cuts and bruises after scuffling with a motorist they pulled over for going 90 mph on Interstate 5, a CHP official said Thursday.

Saro Amirian, 42, of Gardena was arrested on suspicion of assault and battery on a police officer, as well as drunk driving. Authorities said Amirian switched places with his passenger as his van came to a halt so it would appear he hadn't been driving.

CHP Officer Robert Rockafellow, 33, suffered a fractured right hand and cuts and scrapes to his legs in the fight late Wednesday on the Antelope Valley Freeway. He is expected to spend the next six weeks recovering.

``He's banged up pretty good,'' CHP spokesman Doug Sweeney said.

Officer Sandra Butler, 36, suffered from a sprained left shoulder, arm and wrist and is expected to return to work in several days, Sweeney said.

Amirian's passenger, 54-year-old Shoney Singun of Gardena, was arrested on suspicion of resisting and obstructing an officer.

Both were taken to Twin Towers Jail in Los Angeles and booked in lieu of $25,000 bail apiece, authorities said.

The arrests were made after Rockafellow attempted to stop an older model green Ford van traveling 90 mph on the southbound freeway. Rockafellow, working a special detail monitoring traffic with radar, activated his red lights and siren, but the driver of the van failed to stop and continued southbound, Sweeney said.

As the van passed San Fernando Road, its driver pulled into the center divider. As the van made a rolling stop, the officer saw Amirian, the driver, switching seats with passenger Singun, Sweeney said.

When both cars stopped, Rockafellow approached the van, observed Amirian in the passenger seat and asked him to exit the vehicle.

As Rockafellow questioned Amirian and conducted a field sobriety test, Amirian attacked Rockafellow, and the two men fell to the ground in a struggle. Rockafellow sprayed the suspect with pepper spray, but it only aggravated the suspect, Sweeney said.

While Rockafellow tried to radio for help, Singun got out of the van and joined the struggle, Sweeney said. Rockafellow struck her in the chest.

Butler, trying to help Rockafellow, also was injured by Amirian, officials said.

The two finally were subdued and taken to Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital where Amirian was treated for a fractured nose, along with cuts and bruises.

Rockafellow and Butler were taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, where they were treated and released.

Officials believe that Amirian had switched seats with Singun because he was driving under the influence of alcohol when Rockafellow attempted to pull over the van.