Butler County Sheriff's Office

[Public Info Officer]

For Immediate Release… April 10, 2012

UPDATED WITH CHARGES ADDED AT END !

New Miami Police Officer Injured in Crash during Traffic Stop

Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones reports that a New Miami Police Officer was injured this morning while he was conducting a traffic stop. Shortly before 11:00 am today, New Miami Police Officer Pat Fackey, age 31, made a traffic stop of a gray pickup truck along southbound State Route 127 between New Miami and the Hamilton City limits for a minor traffic offense. Officer Fackey had re-entered his police cruiser to continue paperwork for the traffic offense after briefly speaking to the driver of the vehicle he had stopped. The cruiser was stopped along the right side of the four-lane roadway with its overhead emergency lights activated. A southbound 1996 white Nissan then struck the police cruiser (with Officer Fackey inside) in the driver’s side rear quarter panel. The Nissan continued traveling southbound a short distance before going off the right side of the roadway and down an embankment.

Officer Fackey was transported from the scene by the City of Hamilton Life Squad and taken to Fort Hamilton Hospital for what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries. The occupants of the Nissan initially tried to run from the scene, but were stopped by Sheriff’s Deputies not far from their vehicle. Jake Cordero, age 20, of Hamilton was identified as the driver of the Nissan. Layna Carpenter, age 30, also of Hamilton, was identified as a passenger in the Nissan. They were interviewed by Sheriff’s Office personnel at the scene. Although he did not appear to be injured, Cordero was taken to Fort Hamilton Hospital for a medical assessment before being taken to the Sheriffs’ Office for further questioning. Carpenter refused any medical assessment or treatment, but was also taken to the Sheriff’s Office for further questioning. Butler County S.T.A.R.T. (Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team) members continue to investigate the crash. Charges are pending but have not yet been filed.

UPDATE: Cordero has now been charged with felony counts of Leaving the Scene of an Accident and Tampering with Evidence, and Misdemeanor charges of Driving Under Suspension, Failure to Move Over for a Stationary Public Safety Vehicle, and Obstructing Official Business. Carpenter was booked into jail on an outstanding warrant for Contempt out of Hamilton Municipal Court, but was not specifically charged in this crash incident.

Prepared by: Sgt. Monte Mayer
Public Information Officer
Operations Support