ST. LOUIS — A Missouri nonprofit is assisting the off-duty police officer who was hospitalized Sunday after trying to clear people from a crash outside Ted Drewes on Chippewa.
The Chief Mason Griffith Foundation (CMGF) is accepting donations for Washington Police officer Matt Cooper and his family.
The foundation supports former, retired and fallen first responders, assists current first responders in times of need and creates opportunities for young men and women who have a desire to become a first responder, according to the nonprofit’s website.
Cooper was in critical condition Sunday night after attempting to clear people from the incident site where police say a 19-year-old driver had swerved and crashed into metal barriers on the Ted Drewes parking lot, hitting multiple people.
While trying to clear people out of the way, Cooper became on top of the car and was on the hood when it took off.
Cooper sustained head injuries and received stitches on the back of his head, according to CMGF director Angie Koepke. She said Cooper had knee and tibia surgery that went well.
“He’s in good spirits,” Koepke said.
Cooper serves as a school resource officer for Washington Middle School and will be unable to work as he recovers.
Koepke also works at Washington Middle School with Cooper. The two families became close, especially when Koepke’s son-in-law Mason Griffith was killed in the line of duty in 2023, which was why the foundation was started.
“It seems right to support him,” Koepke said.
Five others were injured in Sunday’s incident, including a 21-year-old woman, a 17-year-old man, a 55-year-old man, a 12-year-old girl and an 82-year-old man, according to police.
The driver has been identified as Rasool Al Janabi who returned to the scene after taking off. He has been charged with five counts of leaving the scene of an accident.
The investigation is ongoing by police.