Crime & Safety
Charges: Driver Struck Ex-Brother-in-Law with Car on Way to Funeral
Witnesses told police they saw the victim fly into the air, but the driver told police he never hit the man and was trying to avoid and defend himself from him after an altercation at a Brookfield condo, charges allege.
A Madison man hit his ex-brother-in-law with his car after the two got into an altercation at a Brookfield condominium complex pool, charges allege.
Robert S. Viel, 61, was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court Monday with first-degree reckless endangerment of safety, hit and run causing injury and bail jumping. If convicted, he faces up to 14 years in prison and $45,000 in fines.
According to the criminal complaint:
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At 8:57 p.m. Friday, Brookfield police officers were called to the 17600 block of Nassau Drive after witnesses saw Viel speed up to about 45 miles per hour and hit a man walking across the street, causing him to fly into the air. Veil then fled the scene, while the victim laid on the ground for five to 10 minutes.
When officers arrived, they found the victim being treated by medical personnel and bleeding from the nose. He also appeared intoxicated and was taken to Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital for treatment.
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The victim told police he had been drinking beer and cognac earlier in the day and went to see “Spiderman” at the Marcus Majestic Theater before returning to his condo complex, where he decided to confront Veil who was in the pool area. He said Viel is his ex-brother-in-law and he went to speak his mind to Veil, who he called a molester before walking away.
He said he was walking back to his condo when Viel hit him with his car.
Viel was pulled over on North Avenue near Calhoun Road. He was told he was being placed under arrest for hit and run, but he said he was on the way to his father’s funeral and would turn himself in afterwards. He was taken into custody and on the way to the Brookfield Police Department he said the victim was coming at him, so he needed to defend himself with his car.
At the station, Viel said the victim is his sister’s boyfriend and he is a scary guy who he tries to avoid, but was confronted in the pool area by him. He said he was in his car when the victim came towards him with a crazed look on his face, so he veered out of the way and drove off. He said the victim jumped up and down and tried to run after him, but fell down and contended he didn’t hit the man.
Viel was being held in the Waukesha County Jail on $10,000 bond.