ST. LOUIS — The driver who reportedly hit and killed St. Louis police officer David Lee is facing multiple charges, including DWI and speeding.
Prosecutors filed charges against Ramon Arnaldo Chavez-Rodriguez Monday morning after Lee was hit and killed along eastbound Interstate 70 while responding to a one-car crash near Grand Avenue on Sunday. Officers detained Chavez-Rodriguez at the scene.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Police department, community leaders honor fallen officer David Lee
Chavez-Rodriguez was reportedly driving 71 mph in a 55 mph zone before he lost control of his vehicle and it began spinning on the freshly rained-on roads, according to court documents. The out-of-control vehicle pinned Lee to it and the previously crashed vehicle before throwing Lee several feet away.
Chavez-Rodriguez had a blood alcohol content of .10, above the .08 legal limit, two hours after hitting Lee, according to court documents. He had previously pled guilty to driving while intoxicated and second-degree assault in a previous 2020 incident, where he physically abused a woman and attempted to hit her with his car, court documents from that case said.
Prosecutors said the past incident, and Chavez-Rodriguez's lack of U.S. legal status, made them believe he was a danger to the community. He is being held without bond.
St. Louis police Chief Robert Tracy said Lee is the 167th St. Louis police officer to die in the line of duty. His family is being assisted by BackStoppers, an organization that provides financial support and assistance to the families of first responders who died in the line of duty.
“We will be by [Lee's family's] side, helping in any way we can as they go through their darkest hours. We're devastated, we're heartbroken, but we will continue to serve a protected city of St Louis and make our fallen colleague proud,” Tracy said at a news conference Sunday night.
“We’re all going to be mourning the loss for days to come, years to come, after this.”
