Former Dallas City Council member Kevin Felder was indicted by a Dallas County grand jury Thursday morning on a charge that he failed to stop and render aid after hitting a motorized scooter rider near Fair Park in February.

Felder, who represented South Dallas and parts of East Dallas before losing his re-election bid this year, was released on a personal recognizance bond shortly after he was arrested in February. Police said Felder left the scene after colliding with a teenager Feb. 13 in the 2500 block of Malcolm X Boulevard.

News of the indictment was first reported by WFAA-TV (Channel 8).

At a news conference Thursday afternoon, Felder said he would fight the third-degree felony charge.

“I am very disappointed in the grand jury’s indictment. However, I want to make it perfectly clear that I am innocent of this particular charge. I do believe that I will be exonerated at the end of the day,” he said.

In the arrest warrant affidavit, police said they spoke to the scooter rider, who alleged that a blue Ford Fusion struck him from behind. Through his attorney at the time, Peter Schulte, Felder denied that a collision occurred.

The collision struck the man “so quickly he could not brace himself prior to hitting the ground,” an officer wrote in the affidavit, which was signed by state District Judge Tammy Kemp.

The affidavit said a witness recognized Felder and heard the council member yell, “Do you know who I am?” before he drove away.

The accident happened shortly before an off-campus City Council meeting and became a bizarre subplot during the Feb. 13 meeting. Police towed Felder’s Ford Fusion from the parking lot during the meeting, but had not charged him with a crime until Thursday morning.

As police continued their investigation and held a news conference with reporters outside the meeting, Felder held discussions off the mike with City Manager T.C. Broadnax, Police Chief U. Renee Hall and Assistant City Manager Jon Fortune, who oversees public safety.

Felder also was investigated after a television cameraman submitted a complaint to the Dallas Police Department, which was forwarded to the public integrity unit on Feb. 25, alleging Felder assaulted him “when he pushed him causing him to fall.”

Video captured the moment when Felder walked between two vehicles and swung his arm toward the microphone in his face. According to records, the journalist, Michael Heimbuch, failed to step backward on the curb and fell.

Heimbuch did not pursue charges.

Felder didn’t make it to the runoff election in June and came in fourth in the general election in May after serving just two years on the council.

He’s just one of several council members over the years who have faced felony charges. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson has promised to eradicate corruption at City Hall after two council members — Dwaine Caraway and Carolyn Davis, who died this year — pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges.

Adam Bazaldua, who was elected to Felder’s District 7 seat, said Thursday he believes everyone is entitled to due process but wants to restore any broken trust from the public caused by former elected officials.

“I’m very committed to making sure that we have more trust and pride in our representation going forward,” Bazaldua said. “I think that it is a good thing that we are hearing about this when Mr. Felder is not the representative of our district. The last thing that we need is another legal battle … with one of our elected officials.”