Murder
Published: November 04, 2008 10:14 am
Murder charge filed in crash that killed marshal
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — A man whose SUV collided with a motorcycle ridden by an off-duty town marshal then intentionally drove over the fallen lawman, killing him, authorities said Monday.
Craig Toner, 49, the town marshal of Roseland, was riding his motorcycle with his brother in northern Indiana when the SUV crossed the center line about 3:20 p.m. Saturday and hit him head-on.
Witnesses told police that Toner told his brother, “I’m OK,†and lifted himself up on an elbow, only to be run over.
The driver of the SUV, Alexander Orta of South Bend, was charged Monday with murder, operating a motor vehicle under the influence, and leaving the scene after an accident resulting in death. Police said Orta had cocaine in his system and a portable breath test showed he had been drinking. Orta was being held without bond Monday in the St. Joseph County Jail.
According to a probable cause affidavit, witnesses told police that before the accident Orta was driving erratically and was weaving around cars. Witnesses also said that when Toner was hit, he rolled up onto the hood of the car, hit the windshield and dropped to the ground. Orta got out of his vehicle, saw Toner, and ran over him.
Witnesses said that before he was run over, Toner told Orta that he “wasn’t going anywhere, he had just hit a police officer.â€
Orta was arrested after crashing the SUV into a fence and some trees about a half mile away.
According to South Bend television station WSBT, Orta has been arrested 19 times since 2000 for offenses including theft, criminal mischief, public intoxication, vehicle assault and battery.
Published: November 04, 2008 10:14 am
Murder charge filed in crash that killed marshal
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — A man whose SUV collided with a motorcycle ridden by an off-duty town marshal then intentionally drove over the fallen lawman, killing him, authorities said Monday.
Craig Toner, 49, the town marshal of Roseland, was riding his motorcycle with his brother in northern Indiana when the SUV crossed the center line about 3:20 p.m. Saturday and hit him head-on.
Witnesses told police that Toner told his brother, “I’m OK,†and lifted himself up on an elbow, only to be run over.
The driver of the SUV, Alexander Orta of South Bend, was charged Monday with murder, operating a motor vehicle under the influence, and leaving the scene after an accident resulting in death. Police said Orta had cocaine in his system and a portable breath test showed he had been drinking. Orta was being held without bond Monday in the St. Joseph County Jail.
According to a probable cause affidavit, witnesses told police that before the accident Orta was driving erratically and was weaving around cars. Witnesses also said that when Toner was hit, he rolled up onto the hood of the car, hit the windshield and dropped to the ground. Orta got out of his vehicle, saw Toner, and ran over him.
Witnesses said that before he was run over, Toner told Orta that he “wasn’t going anywhere, he had just hit a police officer.â€
Orta was arrested after crashing the SUV into a fence and some trees about a half mile away.
According to South Bend television station WSBT, Orta has been arrested 19 times since 2000 for offenses including theft, criminal mischief, public intoxication, vehicle assault and battery.
