CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Police have arrested a suspect after a Cleveland police officer died early Tuesday morning after he was struck by a vehicle on I-90 West near Warren Road.
Israel Alvarez, 44, was arrested in Lorain for aggravated vehicular homicide and felonious hit-skip.
Authorities say officer David Fahey was hit by a white Toyota Camry while assisting at the scene of a crash. The driver of that white Camry -- with possible partial plate "GTD" -- fled the scene.
Police were on scene at a home on E. 31st Street in Lorain, where a match to the suspect's vehicle was found.
Person taken into custody possibly in connection with the police officer struck and killed this morning.@wkyc pic.twitter.com/gnex6mD7Fb
— Craig Roberson WKYC (@CraigWKYC) January 24, 2017
Police taking one person into custody from house they've been surrounding. He was taken without incident. @wkyc pic.twitter.com/d9RrJ6m02Y
— Will Ujek (@WillUjek) January 24, 2017
Officer Fahey was 39 years old. Assigned to the 1st District, Fahey was hired by the Cleveland Police Department on July 7, 2014.
"We need to get that vehicle found," Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said during a brief morning news conference. "If that person's out there, turn yourself in. If not, we'll find you."
Digital boards along numerous roadways Tuesday morning included a message for drivers to keep an eye out for the "damaged white Camry."
Cleveland Police Union President Steve Loomis fought back tears as he addressed the media about officer Fahey's death.
"I'm just gonna ask that everybody in Cleveland keep the family in your thoughts and prayers. ... Keep all the police officers in your thoughts and prayers because (pause) everybody's going through a really hard time right now."
Police gathered shortly before 11 a.m. to help escort the body of officer Fahey.
Crews initially closed I-90 West near McKinley, but that closure later stretched to I-71. Multiple ramps were closed as well, but all closures have since been lifted.
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson's office released the following statement:
"The City of Cleveland extends its deepest condolences to the family of Police Officer David Fahey. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Fahey family, who, this morning, lost their loved one in this tragic and senseless act. No words can express the sorrow and pain the Faheys are experiencing right now and no family should have to go through such a loss. The Fahey family has our full support and I urge all people of the City of Cleveland to keep the Fahey family in mind during this difficult time."
Stay with WKYC for the latest information as updates become available.
