Arrested: Man Wanted In Deadly Opa-Locka Hit & Run
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
OPA LOCKA (CBSMiami) -- Miami-Dade Police arrested a man wanted in connection to a deadly hit and run in Opa Locka.
Marsel Oscar Reinoso surrendered to Opa Locka Police on Friday.
Reinoso, who is the owner of the car police said was involved in the hit and run, was taken to the Miami-Dade Police Department where he was interviewed and arrested on a charge of leaving the scene of a crash involving death.
CBS4's Peter D'Oench discovered that the 33-year-old Reinoso has an extensive criminal history. Records show he has been arrested for possession of marijuana, making threatening phone calls, petit theft, assault, burglary, possession of a weapon by a felon, driving while his license was revoked and disobeying a red light.
Police said a car struck and killed 84-year old David Contreras on Wednesday evening while crossing the street at the 2700 block of NW 135th Street.
Surveillance cameras captured the driver get out of the SUV, walk toward the man's body, then turn around and run back to the vehicle, jump inside and take off.
Miami-Dade Police Detective Alvaro Zabaleta told D'oench that police are troubled by the driver's behavior.
"The witnesses said the driver stopped, got out of his vehicle, ran toward the victim, looked at the victim and did not render aid or call 911. He didn't try to help him and he ran back towards the car and fled the scene," said Zabaleta.
He said, "You're talking about somebody's life. That is somebody's loved one. Somebody's brother, sister or husband. It is somebody's life. It is not a sack of potatoes where you leave him lying in the street. At least call 911. This individual didn't deserve that. This was a total disregard for life."
Detectives said there was also a female passenger in the vehicle.
Police found Reinoso's abandoned Infinity SUV, which had extensive front-end damage, about a block away on Sabur Lane.
Friends and neighbors said Contreras lived alone in an efficiency apartment in a home near the area where he lost his life.
Danny Varela said Contreras "was a very good guy, very honorable. He was very loving. He would go out at night to buy cigarettes. He would walk alone."
Ernestina Borrell, a neighbor, said, "It's terrible, all the news about people hitting people. This is a human being."
Malthide Poteu said, "I feel very sad for him. That could happen to me or any other person."
