Coral Gables Police say they've made an arrest in a fatal hit and run crash that happened in March.
Police say they've arrested and charged Juan Carlos Redero with three felonies, including tampering with evidence and leaving the scene of a crash causing death.
The arrest stems from a deadly hit and run crash on March 26th, in which a bicyclist was struck and killed and left in the road to die in Coral Gables.
Police later found the mangled bicycle about four blocks west of the victim's body.
A partial tag was taken by a witness and there were parts of the Nissan Altima left at the crash scene, which enabled police in their efforts to track down the car.
The Nissan Altima had extensive damage consistent with the crash.
It appeared that the driver tried to hide the damaged car and its shattered front windshield, police say.
"There was absolutely no doubt looking at the forensic evidence on the vehicle that he knew he had hit somebody," said Edward Hudak, Coral Gables Interim Police Chief.
At about 3:15 a.m on March 26, police say Redero hit Carlos Suarez, 33, who was riding his bike at the intersection of Bird Road and Granada Boulevard.
A piece of the car left behind, and a partial license plate number narrowed the search.
"These guys were on the computers throughout the morning," Hudak said. "As we were taking measurements identified three types of vehicles with that year model from the manufacturer."
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They were three Nissan Altimas, all in Miami-Dade county.
Police found the one involved behind Redero's house near Tropical Park hours after the crash, with the seriously damaged front end covered with a kiddie pool.
Police say Redero hit Suarez, continued driving, got out to dislodge the bike from the car, then kept going.
Investigators spent about a month building their case, at the same time keeping tabs on Redero. They finally arrested him Friday morning.
Chief Hudak talked about drivers colliding with bicyclists on South Florida's streets.
"It happens way too often," he said. "It is something that every police department and all of my colleagues as chiefs have to deal with. People need to stop and render aid."
