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Houston police officer struck by car, killed
© 2011 The Associated Press
May 29, 2011, 8:34PM
HOUSTON A Houston police officer was killed early Sunday when a man drove around a police barricade and struck the officer as he was investigating a traffic accident, investigators said.
Johoan Rodriguez, 26, was charged with intoxication manslaughter of a peace officer, felony evading in a motor vehicle and possession of a controlled substance, police said. Investigators said the substance was cocaine.
Officer Kevin S. Will, 38, was hit around 3:45 a.m. when Rodriguez passed through a barricade on North Interstate Highway 610, police said. Police pursued Rodriguez, but they couldn't stop his vehicle before he fatally hit Will. The officer died at the scene, Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland said.
Will, a married father of two, was sworn in as an officer in September 2009 and would have celebrated a year in the vehicular crimes department Sunday, McClelland said.
"At this morning's roll call, (Will) announced to his comrades that today was his one-year anniversary in vehicular crimes, and he made a joke that he's been here a year, so does that qualify him to be a veteran or is he still a rookie?" McClelland said. "He loved his work and gave his life to this city trying to keep it safe."
Will had two children, ages 6 and 10, and his wife is 6 months pregnant, McClelland told the Houston Chronicle.
Rodriguez was arrested at the scene and taken to a hospital with minor injuries, and was booked into jail later Sunday. Police spokesman Victor Senties did not know whether Rodriguez had an attorney yet. Online court records were not yet listing Rodriguez's information.
The freeway had been blocked after a previous accident to allow officers to investigate, and the closure was well marked by police cruisers with their lights flashing.
"Officer Will and other witnesses at the scene who were inside the barriers had no expectation that someone would drive around that or drive through that," McClelland said.
The chief said that as the vehicle came through the barrier, Will yelled at a witness he was interviewing to "get out of the way."
"The witness had no time to look around or react, except to leap over the concrete barrier that divides the freeway. According to him (the witness), he heard the impact before he hit the ground," McClelland said. "He credits Officer Will with giving him the prior warning of getting out of the way. "
Read more: Houston police officer struck by car, killed | AP Texas News | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle
© 2011 The Associated Press
May 29, 2011, 8:34PM
HOUSTON A Houston police officer was killed early Sunday when a man drove around a police barricade and struck the officer as he was investigating a traffic accident, investigators said.
Johoan Rodriguez, 26, was charged with intoxication manslaughter of a peace officer, felony evading in a motor vehicle and possession of a controlled substance, police said. Investigators said the substance was cocaine.
Officer Kevin S. Will, 38, was hit around 3:45 a.m. when Rodriguez passed through a barricade on North Interstate Highway 610, police said. Police pursued Rodriguez, but they couldn't stop his vehicle before he fatally hit Will. The officer died at the scene, Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland said.
Will, a married father of two, was sworn in as an officer in September 2009 and would have celebrated a year in the vehicular crimes department Sunday, McClelland said.
"At this morning's roll call, (Will) announced to his comrades that today was his one-year anniversary in vehicular crimes, and he made a joke that he's been here a year, so does that qualify him to be a veteran or is he still a rookie?" McClelland said. "He loved his work and gave his life to this city trying to keep it safe."
Will had two children, ages 6 and 10, and his wife is 6 months pregnant, McClelland told the Houston Chronicle.
Rodriguez was arrested at the scene and taken to a hospital with minor injuries, and was booked into jail later Sunday. Police spokesman Victor Senties did not know whether Rodriguez had an attorney yet. Online court records were not yet listing Rodriguez's information.
The freeway had been blocked after a previous accident to allow officers to investigate, and the closure was well marked by police cruisers with their lights flashing.
"Officer Will and other witnesses at the scene who were inside the barriers had no expectation that someone would drive around that or drive through that," McClelland said.
The chief said that as the vehicle came through the barrier, Will yelled at a witness he was interviewing to "get out of the way."
"The witness had no time to look around or react, except to leap over the concrete barrier that divides the freeway. According to him (the witness), he heard the impact before he hit the ground," McClelland said. "He credits Officer Will with giving him the prior warning of getting out of the way. "
Read more: Houston police officer struck by car, killed | AP Texas News | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle
