Inset: James Harvey (Polk County Sheriff”s Office). Background: Highway 8 in St. Croix Falls, Wis., where Roger Peterson was killed (Google Maps).
A Wisconsin man who allegedly hit a pedestrian, then made his wife get behind the wheel, has been arrested.
James Harvey, 66, was charged with hit-and-run involving death in connection with a car crash that took place on Saturday. The collision killed 65-year-old Roger Peterson, who police said was trying to cross Highway 8 in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, when he was struck by a blue Dodge Journey SUV. According to a criminal complaint reviewed by Law&Crime, the SUV belonged to Harvey’s daughter, who provided police with her parents’ address in Webster, Wisconsin.
When police arrived at the Harveys’ home on Sunday, they found the Dodge, and “it appeared there was an attempt to hide it.”
According to the complaint, Harvey appeared to be “disheveled looking and wet,” and police said they believed he was attempting to “tamper with the vehicle in order to hide evidence.” Harvey reportedly asked several times if he needed a lawyer and refused to speak with police.
After obtaining a search warrant, police said, they took a closer look at the Dodge, which was parked near a “partially dug hole” on the Harveys’ property. The front driver’s side of the vehicle had “heavy damage,” and police said they found hair embedded in the shattered windshield. Police read Harvey his rights and told him that whoever was driving the Dodge “had killed somebody.” Harvey was arrested for “aiding, abetting, and hiding evidence” and for being a party to a homicide.
Harvey’s wife was told that while she was not under arrest, she was not free to leave. She was read her rights and agreed to speak with police.
According to the complaint, Harvey’s wife said that Harvey was driving the Dodge that Saturday afternoon when she thought she saw someone in a black hoodie or jacket and heard a “thump” when the vehicle struck Peterson. She told police she said, “Oh my God, that was a person, wasn’t it?” She said Harvey did not know, but he pulled over to the side of the road, parked the SUV and told his wife to “get in the driver’s seat.” After they switched places, police said, Harvey’s wife took back roads on their way home. At some point, they switched places again.
Harvey’s wife confirmed that her husband did not have a valid driver’s license.
Police said that when the Harveys got home, they had dinner. Harvey’s wife told police “there was a roast cooking in a slow cooker” while they were out. After the Harveys got home, their daughter called them to ask where her vehicle was because she had gotten a call from the police. Harvey’s wife told police that she did not tell her daughter what happened.
Harvey remains in custody at the Polk County Jail and is scheduled to make his first appearance in court on Wednesday. Harvey’s wife was not charged.
