CLEVELAND - According to a Cleveland Municipal Court spokesman, Joshua J. Gaspar, 37, of Columbia Station was arrested at the scene where Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Kenneth Velez was struck and killed on Thursday.
The spokesman says Gaspar was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash.
The court spokesman says Gaspar is likely to be in Cleveland Municipal Court Saturday morning. The court spokesman said an additional charge of aggravated vehicular homicide is likely due to the high bond request.
In a press release, OSHP says he's being charged with aggravated vehicular homicide.
OSHP is asking for a high bond, according to court records, because Gaspar was "driving recklessly" at the time of the accident.
According to OSHP, a black 2015 Hyundai struck Velez after swerving toward the berm to avoid another vehicle. The Hyundai’s driver was Gaspar, according to OSHP
"This is a tragedy for the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Department of Public Safety,” said Colonel Paul Pride, Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent. “Our prayers go out to the Velez family during this difficult time.”
Velez's visitation will be September 21 at Lorain High School from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Funeral arrangements are still pending.
Velez was conducting routine traffic enforcement when he was struck. In that incident, Velez, 48, was struck outside his patrol car around 12:52 p.m. Thursday. Velez worked out of the Brook Park OSHP post, where the American flag is now at half-staff.
Velez was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center where he later died from his injuries.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, he was a father of three. He graduated as a member of the 118th academy class in 1989.
WKYC has learned that Gaspar was arrested in Alabama on 2013 on charges of “attempting to commit a controlled substance crime.” Gaspar was paroled to Ohio, where he was raised.
According to the Cuyahoga County Clerk of Courts, Gaspar has priors for aggravated theft and drug possession.
