ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando Police Officer William Anderson, who was badly injured when he was run down by fleeing suspects in July, discussed his injuries in an emotional news conference on Wednesday.
Anderson has not returned to work and doesn't know whether he'll ever wear his police uniform again. He suffered a traumatic brain injury when teenage suspects ran him over during a traffic stop on July 13.
As a result of the hit-and-run, Anderson said he suffers severe spinal, head, neck and back pain and has seen little improvement since he was released from the hospital. He said he has tremors in his hand and has impaired vision because of his brain bouncing against the back of his eyes.
Raw: Officer Anderson describes injuries, difficult lifestyle changes
Raw: Dashcam video released in OPD officer hit-and-run (Warning: Graphic)
"I struggle with memory and concentration. My entire well-being has been turned upside down," he said.
Anderson said he must now use a cane and mobility scooters to get around and can no longer pick up his young daughter.
"We spend most days at therapy appointments," Anderson said.
Anderson said he's depressed because of the lifestyle change and worries that he'll never fully recover.
"I miss being the active and involved father and husband I used to be. I miss being a police officer," he said.
Edward Kelty, 17, is charged with attempted second-degree murder of a police officer with a weapon, aggravated battery causing great bodily harm on an officer with a weapon and leaving the scene of an accident with serious injury.
Angel Nieves, 17, is charged with accessory after the fact to a life felony and tampering with physical evidence, and Alfonza Singleton, 17, is charged with resisting arrest.
Investigators said Anderson opened fire after he was hit by the car. Kelty suffered a gunshot wound, and police said Nieves took the wheel and drove him to the hospital.
Anderson, who was off duty at the time, initially pulled over the car on South Kirkman Road in connection with reports of shots fired near an IHOP restaurant, police said.
The graphic incident was caught on the officer's dashcam.
"I think anyone who has seen it knows that it's heart-wrenching to watch. It's disturbing and it's very difficult to see someone try to run you over and kill you," Anderson's wife said of the video.
"No one expects anything like this to happen. I mean, we train for it, but no one thinks that they are going to be that one, on that date and time, that this happens to," Anderson said.
Kelty's mother told Channel 9 that she has filed an excessive-force complaint against Anderson.