Fox59 Indianapolis: Driver Linked to Crash That Led to Deputy’s Death Arrested

Driver Linked to Crash That Led to Deputy’s Death Arrested

PLAINFIELD, Ind. – Police arrested a driver linked to a crash that eventually led to the death of an investigating Hendricks County sheriff’s deputy.

Juan Gomez, 20, a native of Guatemala, tried to leave a hospital Thursday night. Authorities in Marion County found him and brought him to the Hendricks County Jail. He was arrested on a probation violation.

Gomez suffered injuries consistent with burns after a crash on April 16 north of County Road 300 S and State Road 267 near Plainfield. Police said a 2009 Honda passenger car hit a utility pole.

Sheriff: Hendricks Co. deputy electrocuted while responding to crash
Hendricks County Deputy Fred Fislar responded to the scene early that morning. He came into contact with downed power lines and was shocked. Fislar later died at a hospital; he was laid to rest last weekend.

Investigators said Gomez, who had a previous OWI arrest from Hendricks County on March 3, was the driver of that vehicle. Investigators confirmed that Gomez is suspected of driving under the influence not once but twice in a matter of 43 days.

Gomez was charged for the March 3 incident with operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, minor consuming alcohol, knowingly or intentionally operating a motor vehicle without ever receiving a license, and operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalent to .15 or more.

He bonded out for $300 for the original March 3 incident.

FOX59/CBS4 spoke with Carey York, a criminal defense attorney with Eskew Law, who is unaffiliated with this case. He said it is quite unusual to see back-to-back drunk driving incidents in such a short amount of time.

“Certainly, the statistics would indicate that repeat offense drunk driving cases are fairly common, but I would say within 30-45 days is very unique,” said York, an attorney unaffiliated with this case. “I don’t know if you would see that.”

Gomez is not yet charged in connection with the crash that Fislar responded to; Plainfield police said their investigation into that case is ongoing.

_{This article was originally published on fox59.com and written by Matt Adams.}

_{1. https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/delphi-murder-trial-moved-up-to-may-13/amp/}