Mich. driver charged in crash with officer

10/7/2012

A Michigan man was charged with deliberately causing a Toledo police officer to crash his motorcycle into a stopped car Friday afternoon.

Edward Wechtel, 58, of 1022 Feltis Dr., Temperance, was arraigned on Saturday in Toledo Municipal Court on a single count of felonious assault on a police officer and was ordered held in lieu of $100,000 bond.

Mr. Wechtel was in the Lucas County jail Saturday afternoon.

According to a police report and court documents, Officer Rick Fisher was on patrol near Monroe Street and Auburn Avenue when he stopped Mr. Wechtel in the 3400 block of Monroe for running a red light.

After receiving the ticket, the driver pulled away, squealing his tires while accelerating, police said.

Officer Fisher and a second officer chased the speeding vehicle when the driver "suddenly slammed on his brakes," causing Officer Fisher to hit the back of the vehicle while the other motorcycle officer narrowly avoided it, police said. The crash was reported at about 2:45 p.m.

Toledo Municipal Court documents stated that Mr. Wechtel “admitted he intentionally caused the officer to collide into the rear of his vehicle.”

Officer Fisher, a 12-year member of the force, was taken to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center for facial and “other possible injuries,” police said.

The hospital said it did not have information on Officer Fisher.