Lakeville Man Charged in Hit & Run Involving Tow Truck Operators

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Faribault, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Lakeville man was arraigned today at the Rice County Courthouse in Faribault on felony charges stemming from a hit-and-run incident on I-35 late Sunday night.

39-year-old Marlon Fleming is charged with two counts of criminal vehicular operation for striking two tow truck operators with his car and driving away from the scene. The two Faribault men, 39-year-old Michael Sirek and 23-year-old Parker Swanson, were taken to hospitals to be treated for what were described as non-life-threatening injuries.

The criminal complaint says they were working to remove a pickup truck and camper from the median along northbound I-35 in the Northfield area when they were struck by the 2006 Lincoln MKZ just before 11 PM. The hit and run was witnessed by a State Trooper, who was parked behind the tow truck being used to move the truck and camper with his emergency lights and a directional arrow on his squad car activated.

The charges say investigators were able to identify Fleming as the hit and run driver because his father turned him in after his son brought the damaged car back to the father's home. The father described his son as "drunk and belligerent."

The court document also states that the State Trooper who witnessed the incident transported Fleming to a hospital to be checked out because of the level of his impairment. The complaint says, while at the hospital, Fleming stated, "My father he told me about that story today, about two guys getting hit on 35W, and I was like no that was not me, and then just kinda thinking about it, I was like, oh my god, that probably was me." He also told the trooper that he was distracted by his phone.

Conditional bail for Fleming was set at $10,000. He is due back in court later this month.