Off-duty Washington, Mo. police officer was injured in Ted Drewes crash
ST. LOUIS (First Alert 4) -- Matt Cooper, a police officer with the Washington Police Department, was injured while he was off duty when a car veered off the road in the Ted Drewes parking lot in south St. Louis Sunday.
The Washington Police Department posted on Facebook Monday that Cooper is a school resource officer for Washington Middle School. The post said Cooper underwent surgery and is expected to make a full recovery. Washington police say he suffered a head laceration that required staples and stitches, he also suffered a concussion and a leg fracture. His leg was operated on after the crash.
The incident happened around 8 p.m. Sunday at the Ted Drewes on Chippewa. Six people were injured when someone turned into the parking lot and struck them. The person left the scene but later came back, according to police. Cooper was injured when he tried to intervene during the incident.
The St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office charged 19-year-old Rasool Al Janabi with five counts of leaving the scene of an accident causing physical injury. Al Janabi was initially not allowed bond, but then was released on Tuesday by Judge Heather Hays on sponsored recognizance, court documents show.
Cooper has a long road of rehab ahead of him before he can return to duty. he has been with the Washington Police Department for 15 years. He was released from the hospital on Tuesday.
The Chief Mason Griffith Foundation is assisting Cooper’s family after the incident. The foundation had raised $6,000 as of Tuesday afternoon. You can donate through this link.
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