Richard Bradley of Abernathy was wrongfully arrested by Lubbock Police in connection to the hit and run car crash involving LSO Deputy Ryan Burns. Deputy Burns was struck by a white pick-up truck the night of Jan. 11 and was sent to UMC with serious injuries.

“I hate this happened to him, but all I can do is send out my sympathy and all I can do is let him know it was not me behind that steering wheel,” said Richard Bradley.

The Abernathy father was arrested on Jan. 11 hours after a white pick-up truck collided into an LSO Tahoe near 89th street and Milwaukee Avenue which seriously injured Deputy Burns.

“On LPD or LSO they did their job, they went by what they had to go by and did what they had to do until it was proven and they had enough facts,” said Bradley. “So, I’m comfortable with that.”

Bradley said officers showed up to his Abernathy home on Jan. 11 and questioned him for several hours, ultimately taking him to the Lubbock County Detention Center.

“And that’s when I later discovered that I was charged with the accident of hitting the LSO [Deputy] Burns and I wasn’t in that truck, I wasn’t driving that truck,” said Bradley. “I didn’t leave the scene of the accident I passed the scene of the accident.”

Bradley said that Monday night he was driving a company truck for Precision Pavement Specialist, but not the one that was involved in the wreck.

In the initial investigation Lubbock Police said there was enough probable cause to arrest Bradley.

“Because evidently my name was brought up at the wreck, by family members or whoever,” Bradley said.

On Tuesday Jan. 12 LPD investigators were able to determine after a follow-up investigation that Bradley wasn’t the driver of the truck in question, that hit Deputy Burns.

LPD said enough evidence was proved to clear his name and Bradley’s charges were dropped and he was released from the Lubbock County jail on Thursday Jan. 14.

“I believe that justice needs to be served because somebody needs to be paid for the mistake- accident or no accident,” said Bradley. “If you get behind the wheel drinking you’re responsible, drunk or sober. Somebody needs to pay for what they did to this man’s family and to him.”
    
Bradley is sending his prayers for the seriously injured Deputy.

“I am very sorry for that deputy and his family,” said Bradley. “I pray that he gets through this and can live his life as an LSO.”

As for the father of two, he said this wrongful arrest has affected his family and his beloved community in Abernathy.

“It embarrassed my community and I apologize to my community and hope they can see passed this,” he said. “That sometimes you know when you tell the truth you just have to wait. It’ll come.”

Lubbock Police are looking for the actual driver. Witnesses told us the driver fled on foot that evening.

Call Crime Line at 806-741-1000 with any information.