Retired Detective Killed in Hit-and-Run; Suspect Fled with Beer Can

Retired Green Bay police detective Tom Roberts was struck and killed by an SUV while helping stranded motorists near Gillett, Wisconsin. The incident occurred on the evening of October 25, 2024, when Roberts encountered a disabled utility task vehicle (UTV) along Shawano Line Road near Nelson Road.

Roberts, who had just retired from his role as a detective with the Green Bay Police Department, was driving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) to assist the stranded UTV riders. After connecting a tow strap between Roberts' ATV and the disabled UTV, he climbed back onto his own vehicle when he was suddenly hit by a GMC Acadia traveling west on Shawano Line Road.

Witnesses reported seeing the driver of the SUV exit the vehicle immediately after the collision and flee from the scene on foot. Emergency services arrived shortly thereafter but were unable to revive Roberts at the accident site, pronouncing him dead.

Oconto County Circuit Judge James A. Morrison sentenced Obilio Tomas Sargento Roblero, 34, to a total of 15 years in state prison plus an additional 10 years of extended supervision for his role in the hit-and-run incident that led to Roberts' death. The sentence was handed down on Tuesday following Roblero's plea of no contest to one count of felony hit-and-run involving death.

Investigative efforts revealed that a Modelo beer can and a cellphone were found inside the passenger seat of the GMC Acadia, which had been abandoned at the scene after the collision. Authorities identified Roblero as the driver through evidence collected from the vehicle and his personal belongings left behind.

Roblero was apprehended several days later in Jacksonville, Arkansas, following an extensive search by law enforcement agencies. Upon arrest, he claimed to have borrowed a phone post-accident and called his wife, stating that a deer had run into the road while he was driving home. He alleged that after swerving to avoid the animal, he struck one of the vehicles and panicked before fleeing.

This tragic incident highlights the dangers faced by individuals who stop to assist others in emergencies on the roadside, underscoring the importance of public safety measures and accountability for reckless drivers. The case has garnered significant attention due to Roberts' service as a police officer and his act of helping stranded motorists despite being retired.