Man faces DWI, speeding charges in crash that killed St. Louis police officer David Lee

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - A 24-year-old man is facing DWI and speeding charges following the death of a St. Louis police officer.

Ramon Arnaldo Chavez-Rodriguez, 24, was charged by the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office Monday with one Class-B felony count of DWI death of a law enforcement or emergency personnel, one misdemeanor count of exceeding the speed limit by 16-19 miles per hour, and one misdemeanor count of operating without a license.

Chavez-Rodriguez faces charges in the wake of the death of police officer David Lee , who was struck and killed on I-70 near Grand Avenue Sunday morning.

St. Louis police say Lee was hit by Chavez-Rodriguez while picking up traffic cones around 8:30 a.m. Sunday morning after an off-duty Ferguson firefighter had wrecked her vehicle.

According to the probable cause statement Chavez-Rodriguez lost control of his 2019 Kia Sorrento and began to spin. While in a spin, his Sorrento struck Lee with the rear of his vehicle causing Lee to become pinned between the two vehicles and then thrown several feet.

That firefighter was able to call for help using Lee's radio. Lee was taken to SLU Hospital where he died during surgery.

Lee, 44, served 18 years on the force and was married with a wife and two children.

"We're incredibly grateful for the outpouring support from every corner in the county as we remember our fallen officer David Lee," said St. Louis Police Chief Robert Tracy in a news conference Monday.

Police say Chavez-Rodriguez, who was taken into custody following the crash, and currently being hold without bond, "showed signs of impairment."

A blood test later on revealed he was positive for ethanol at 100 mg/dl or a blood alcohol content of .1O approximately two hours after striking Lee.

Chavez-Rodriguez previously pled guilty to second-degree domestic assault and driving while intoxicated in a separate case in 2020, with Chavez-Rodriguez currently on probation for the former charge.

The probable cause statement states Chavez-Rodriguez does not have legal status in the United States and was not driving with a valid driver's license.

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore said that Chavez-Rodriguez' immigration status did not play a factor in the charges.

"I have not looked into the immigration issues, that is not relevant to our charges," said Gore to reporters Monday.

"It does have an impact on our assessment to whether or not he is an individual who was a flight risk or poses a danger to the community and whether or not he is someone who should be granted a bond. That's where it is relevant and that's why we set it forth in the probable cause statement."