Officer Tillistrand Remains in Critical Condition

UPDATED, 8:45 P.M. - Officer Michael Tillistrand remained in critical condition Thursday night, according to officials at Jacobi Medical Center. Hospital representatives would not comment on reports that Tillistrand woke from his medically-induced coma.

UPDATED, 8:00 P.M. - The driver of the car that struck Pelham Manor police officer Michael Tillistrand on Tuesday night is the daughter of Pelham Manor Fire Chief Joseph Ruggiero, according to published reports. The report, on Lohud.com, says that Jillian Ruggiero is the subject of the police investigation of the accident. No charges have been brought against Ruggiero.

PELHAM MANOR, N.Y. – Pelham Manor police chief Al Mosiello said Thursday that doctors at Jacobi Medical Center had not reported any change in the condition of Michael Tillistrand, the officer who was hit by a car Tuesday night.

Mosiello visited Tillistrand on Wednesday but was not able to actually see him. The chief said he would visit him again Thursday and hoped he would see Tillistrand with his own eyes.

Mosiello said the department does not have plans to start a fund for the officer because Tillistrand’s salary and compensation for his police work will cover all his medical bills.

“The family is not going to be burdened with any financial bills,” Mosiello said.

Doctors at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx performed an emergency craniotomy on Officer Michael Tillistrand on Tuesday night to relieve the pressure in his brain, according to Mosiello. Tillistrand remained in a medically-induced coma in the emergency unit of the hospital as of Thursday. Mosiello said it is possible that Tillistrand suffered other injuries from the accident but that doctors were mainly concerned about his head injury.

Pelham resident Lois Soccodato was saddened by the news of Tillistrand’s accident and was glad that his family will not have any additional stress.

“He should be covered by his job,” Soccodato said. “They need to do the right thing for the family members.”

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