Washington police officer recovering at home after off-duty injury from Ted Drewes crash

ST. LOUIS (First Alert 4) - The Washington Police Department is providing an update on the off-duty police officer recovering after being struck by a car that veered into a crowd at a popular St. Louis custard shop.

Officer Matt Cooper, a Washington Police Officer and school resource officer at Washington Middle School, was injured while trying to assist others when a car veered into a crowd of people at Ted Drewes in South City Sunday night.

“Officer Cooper was trying to get people out of the way because the car was still in motion,” said Lt. Steve Sitzes of the Washington Police Department. “The car then went forward, striking Officer Cooper and tossing him off the vehicle.”

Cooper sustained a concussion, a head injury that required staples and a fractured leg. He underwent surgery for his leg and is now home recovering, though the challenges are significant.

“Getting up to walk around for a few minutes a day is a challenge right now,” Sitzes said. “He’s non-weight bearing until mid-January.”

The crash happened around 8 p.m. Sunday when police say 19-year-old Rasool Al Janabi veered into the crowd and struck multiple people. According to police, Al Janabi initially fled the scene but later returned. He has been charged with five felony counts of leaving the scene of an accident causing physical injury.

Despite his injuries, Cooper’s dedication to protecting others has resonated with his colleagues.

“It’s nothing that they wouldn’t expect. Officer Cooper, if he was that person at the particular place and time, he was going to do something to help,” Sitzes said.

Cooper was released from the hospital on Christmas Eve but is still grappling with pain and limited mobility.

“He’s extremely sore,” Sitzes said. “He’s only had a couple of days at home. He still has staples in his head and can’t get his head wet, which makes things like showering difficult.”

Community support has been overwhelming for Cooper and his family. The Chief Mason Griffith Foundation has raised more than $13,000 for his recovery, and his department has organized a wellness group to provide meals.

“We’ve had an outpouring of support from our mayor and city council members,” Sitzes said. “We’re going to provide him lunches and dinners to help out.”

Sitzes said doctors are optimistic about Cooper’s recovery, noting that the type of surgery he had may lead to quicker healing compared to typical fractures.

“The doctors did tell that with the type of surgery he had, recovery is a little quicker than a broken bone that takes time to heal,” Sitzes said.

Cooper’s colleagues and community members are encouraging him to take his recovery day by day.

If you’d like to support Officer Cooper and his family, donations can be made here.