Juan Gomez, a 20-year-old native of Guatemala, was arrested by police in Marion County after attempting to leave a hospital. He was linked to a crash near Plainfield, Indiana, that led to the death of Hendricks County sheriff’s deputy Fred Fislar.

Arrest and Background

Gomez was arrested on a probation violation and taken to the Hendricks County Jail. His arrest stemmed from a crash on April 16, where a 2009 Honda passenger car driven by Gomez collided with a utility pole, causing him injuries consistent with burns. Deputy Fislar responded to the scene but tragically came into contact with downed power lines, resulting in his death.

Previous Offenses

This wasn’t Gomez’s first brush with the law regarding impaired driving. Prior to the April crash, he had been arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) on March 3 in Hendricks County. In the previous incident, Gomez faced charges including OWI endangering a person, minor consuming alcohol, and operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration above the legal limit.

Unusual Circumstances

The proximity of the two incidents raised eyebrows among legal experts. Carey York, a criminal defense attorney, noted the rarity of back-to-back drunk driving incidents within such a short timeframe. Gomez’s case is particularly uncommon, given the mere 43 days between his two arrests.

Ongoing Investigation

While Gomez currently faces charges related to the March 3 incident, he has not yet been charged in connection with the crash that led to Deputy Fislar’s death. Plainfield police confirmed that their investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Current Status

Gomez is back in custody in Hendricks County, held without bond due to the previous OWI case and the ongoing investigation into the April 16 crash. The legal proceedings surrounding Gomez’s case continue as authorities work to bring closure to the tragic events that unfolded near Plainfield.

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