Maj. Wyche relieved of command
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on December 29, 2016 5:00 PM
Full Size4th Fighter Wing Commander Col. Christopher Sage relieved Maj. Gilbert Wyche from command of the 4th Security Forces Squadron Thursday amid an ongoing investigation into an incident in which one of Wyche's subordinates allegedly drove drunk and killed a 17-year-old.
Wyche was Chief Master Sgt. Hector Soler's commanding officer in the 4th Security Forces Squadron at the time of the wreck, which happened Dec. 10 around 11:30 p.m.
Johny Robert Watson perished at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville several days after the wreck because of the injuries he sustained in the crash.
Soler -- who was the manager of the 4th Security Forces Squadron when the wreck took place -- is accused of driving drunk after a party and crashing into Watson's Jeep on South George Street near Carver Boulevard at 70 mph, according to court documents.
"Col. Christopher Sage, 4th Fighter Wing commander, relieved Maj. Gilbert Wyche from command of the 4th Security Forces Squadron, Dec. 29, 2016, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina," a statement released by SJAFB Public Affairs said. "After a thorough review of information regarding the events of Dec. 10, 2016, Sage lost confidence in Wyche's ability to effectively command the 4th Security Forces Squadron. Wyche will remain temporarily assigned to the 4th Mission Support Group until he is transferred to another base."
Soler's blood alcohol content was reportedly 0.16 -- twice the legal limit -- at the time of the wreck.
Soler, 47, of 105 Laredo Drive, is charged with felony death by motor vehicle, driving while impaired and failure to reduce speed.
Sage has declined to make himself available for an interview on Soler's charges and the ensuing developments in the case, according to SJAFB Public Affairs.
According to recently filed court records, Soler admitted to the officer at the scene of the wreck Dec. 10 that he had "several drinks at (a) party" before getting behind the wheel of his car.
Police have not yet said where that party was, or if the statement Soler provided to the officer on scene was true. Where Soler was going the night of the wreck has also yet to be released.
"We have interviewed witnesses and people connected to the fact gathering of the case," said Goldsboro Police Department Capt. Leann Rabun, who is the supervisor of the shift that responded to the wreck Dec. 10. "We're trying to get some facts about everything that occurred before the incident that killed the young man."
Rabun said the goal in interviewing witnesses connected to the case is to construct a timeline of what happened that night.
Wyche is one of the witnesses authorities interviewed about that night, Rabun said. Sage has not been interviewed, Rabun confirmed.
A breathalyzer test given to Soler at the Wayne County Jail more than two hours after the wreck shows his blood alcohol content registering as 0.16 at 1:43 a.m. and 1:47 a.m. on Dec. 11, court records show.
Court records said that Watson suffered "severe facial lacerations, fractured skull, brain swelling, (and) severe bleeding about the brain" as a result of the crash.
Watson's girlfriend -- 18-year-old Madison Grey Mooring -- was in the car with him at the time of the wreck. She was unharmed.
According to public affairs, Soler continues to report to work and retains his rank as chief master sergeant, but has been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation.
The crash is still under investigation. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call GPD officer M.M. Habermas at 919-580-4272.