Deputy Charged In Hit and Run Accident

A Milwaukee County Sheriff's deputy who lives in Wauwatosa was charged Thursday with fleeing the scene of a traffic accident he was involved in but did not cause.

The deputy, Brad Novak, 32, lives in Wauwatosa and has been a deputy since October 2000. Novak had been at a Brewers game before the accident.

Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. said Novak's police powers were suspended and he has been placed on administrative duty until an internal  investigation is complete.

If convicted of the misdemeanor charge, Novak faces a fine of not less than $300 nor more than $1,000 and up to six months in jail.

According to police reports: Novak was northbound on N. 68th St. at Blue Mound Road just before midnight Saturday. Alissa Jukem, 19, ran a red light and struck Novak's car.

Both vehicles came to rest on the northwest corner of the intersection. An off-duty police officer who witnessed the accident said that Jukem ran the light, but Novak  got out of his car and walked away.

When a state trooper who had been watching the nearby home of Gov. Scott Walker came upon the scene, Novak began running, the Milwaukee officer said. There was no indication that either officer attempted to stop Novak from fleeing.

Novak called Wauwatosa police at about 4:20 a.m. He said he did not recall what happened and that he awakened some hours later in a nearby yard. He said he was unable to find his car, his keys or his cell phone. He said he had a headache but did not seek medical attention.

Novak agreed to come in for questioning at 10 a.m.

Oddly, the Wauwatosa police said they received a call 15 minutes before the accident occurred asking if Novak had been in an accident. Then, 20 minutes after the accident, a woman called to ask if Novak had been in accident.