Docs reveal extent of Officer Santos Cortez's injuries

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Court documents reveal the severity of injuries a police officer incurred in a crash involving a suspected drunken driver.

The man who police say is responsible the crash involving the IMPD officer was more than three times the legal limit for drinking and driving, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Officer Santos Cortez was injured when police say he was pursuing someone wanted in multiple hit-and-run crashes. That suspect, Jerrel Watkins, is suspected of crashing into Cortez’s vehicle.

At the scene, officers found Cortez lying on the ground, drifting in and out of consciousness, court documents revealed Thursday. He said he couldn’t feel his legs. Police said he may have suffered spinal cord injuries.

Watkins told police he had three or four beers and didn’t remember the crash, according to court documents.