Woman involved in Pearland police officer crash looking for fair investigation

A woman involved in a car crash in June in which a Pearland police officer died, is looking for a fair and thorough investigation, according to a statement released Wednesday by her attorney.

Amber Willemsen, 38, was allegedly intoxicated when she crashed into Officer Endy Ekpanya in the early morning of June 13. Ekpanya was responding to a non-emergency call.

Willemsen, a Friendswood resident, has been charged with intoxication manslaughter for the death of Ekpanya. She was also out on a $5,000 bond for a drug possession charge during the crash, according to Harris County court records.

Criminal defense attorney Paul Kendall will represent Willemsen for both pending charges.

"Without a doubt, Officer Ekpanya's loss leaves a void in the lives of his loved ones, his colleagues, and citizens he served. Such an untimely death spawns as much outrage as grief, and we naturally rush to judgment," Kendall said in a statement.

He went on to say, "Nonetheless, Ms. Willemsen deserves the benefit of a full, independent investigation and a vigorous legal defense.She will certainly receive no less. We do not dignify the memory of one we have lost by forgetting the rights of another."

Willemsen was a former assistant principal for Clear Creek school district but left in May 2012 due to family health concerns, according to school officials from the district.

Brazoria County has not yet presented the case before grand jury, but if convicted Willemsen could serve up to 99 years or life in prison. Willemsen also was charged in 2011 for driving while intoxicated, but charges were dropped after she completed probation without incident.