YAKIMA, Wash. – A Yakima man, Brandon Lee Ferguson, 29, pleaded not guilty in Yakima County Court Tuesday to vehicular homicide charges in connection with the death of Alejandro Hernandez-Baez outside Brews & Cues on October 18.
Officers responded to the incident in the 100 block of S 2nd S, where Hernandez-Baez was found unresponsive in the parking lot. Medical personnel attempted life-saving measures, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to court documents, Ferguson admitted to a physical altercation with Hernandez-Baez inside the bar, but claimed that Hernandez-Baez threatened him and damaged his vehicle, prompting him to flee the scene.
Court documents say a witness reported seeing a fight near the truck and described the vehicle driving away with Hernandez-Baez possibly hanging on.
During a recorded interview, Ferguson expressed shock upon learning of Hernandez-Baez’s death and denied intentionally running him over, court documents added.
Police allege Ferguson had a blood alcohol concentration of .085, slightly over the legal limit. Further investigation suggested his BAC might have been higher at the time of the incident.
Ferguson is out on a $20,000 bail. His next hearing is scheduled for December 11.
