Racine man accused of backing tow truck into other vehicles

RACINE (WITI) -- A 32-year-old Racine man faces multiple criminal charges for allegedly backing his tow truck into two other vehicles on Friday, September 13th. The accused is Fernando Hernandez.

Hernandez is charged with one count of first-degree recklessly endangering safety and two counts of criminal damage to property.

According to the criminal complaint, police were called to Memorial Dr. in Racine just before 4 p.m. for a "traffic accident and civil trouble." Witnesses say Hernandez, the owner of the tow truck, came out of his house and "started using profane, boisterous and threatening language" towards a couple of his neighbors who had parked near the tow truck. One of the victims told officers Hernandez got into his truck, "then put the tow truck in reverse, hit the gas and slammed into the passenger side of (the victim's) car." The force of that crash shoved the car into another vehicle.

When police interviewed Hernandez, he told them "he was mad that there were vehicles parked behind his tow truck" and that it was "an ongoing problem." Hernandez said one of his neighbors was trying to fight him so he jumped into the tow truck. He told officers the neighbor "was trying to punch him at which point Hernandez lost control of the tow truck and it accident rolled backward into the parked vehicles."

A witness not involved in the dispute was interviewed by police. His story backs up what the victims told police -- that Hernandez appeared to instigate the incident.

If convicted, Hernandez faces up to 12-and-a-half years in prison plus $25,000 in fines. He will be back in court for his preliminary hearing on Thursday, October 3rd.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.