On 3/23/18 at approximately 4:30 p.m., Officers were on foot in the 500 block of S Academy St investigating an unrelated incident when they observed a vehicle driving recklessly in the area. Officer Nick Drout was forced to run from the roadway to avoid being struck by the reckless driver. Officers began to chase the vehicle in an attempt to get it to stop. The officers lost sight of the vehicle when it cut through an alley between Johnson St and W Racine St. As the vehicle exited the alley it struck a van occupied by five people. After the crash, Officer Drew Severson saw the driver flee the vehicle and run down the alley. K9 Fred was deployed and the driver was apprehended. The subject continued to fight K9 Fred and the officers and was eventually pepper sprayed by officers. Hernandez was transported to an area hospital for injuries as a result of the K9 apprehension. During transport he spit on multiple Janesville Fire Paramedics.
There were no injuries as a result of the crash.
The fleeing subject was identified as Abel Hernandez, 23 years old of Janesville. He was charged with the following and is awaiting court proceedings at the Rock County Jail:
Recklessly Endangering Safety (2 counts)
Fleeing an Officer
Assaulting a Law Enforcement Animal
Propel Bodily Fluids at EMS (2 counts)
OWI 2nd offense
Hit and Run
Open Intoxicants in a Motor Vehicle
Resisting an officer.
A Passenger in the vehicle, Jason Sun 30 years old of Janesville was also arrested and held at the Rock County Jail on a probation violation.
Incident Number: JV1815939
Location: W Racine St/S High St
By: Sgt Jimmy G Holford III
Date: 3/23/18
Pursuant to the directive of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3:6 Trial Publicity, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
