By Barbara Young —
On Sept. 2, a passing vehicle struck Menomonie Police Department Officers Daniel Westlund and Maloree Switlick in a hit and run while they were on bicycle patrol duty.
The officers were transported to the Red Cedar Mayo Emergency Room in Menomonie where they were treated for non-life threatening injuries and released.
The vehicle’s driver was identified as Jacob Bruce Nordstrom. He was arrested and faces a total of six possible charges.
Despite the severity of the crime, Chief of Police Eric Atkinson explained there was a bright side. A couple of University of Wisconsin–Stout students were on scene when the officers were struck and immediately came to their aid.
“They were able to stand up and help the officers in a time of need,” said Atkinson. “It is something that really warmed our hearts.”
The two officers were patrolling at the intersection of Sixth Street East and 14th Avenue around 1:14 a.m., when an inebriated Nordstrom struck them. Nordstrom did not stop, leaving Westlund and Switlick injured. Despite her injuries, Officer Switlick managed to read Nordstrom’s license plate number, which resulted in the quick arrest.
Nordstrom is a student at UW–Stout, but Atkinson did not believe this reflected poorly on the school. He said the actions of the students who helped represented the general population of the university more accurately.
“The Menomonie P.D. appreciates the Stout students,” Atkinson said. “We are happy to have them as a part of our community.”