Suspect Arrested In Jordan Parsons Hit-And-Run
Following nearly a weeklong investigation, Delray Beach, Florida police have arrested a suspect in the sad hit-and-run accident that eventually took the life of 25-year-old Bellator featherweight Jordan Parsons early last Sunday (May 1, 2016).
In a full statement about the accident posted on their Facebook this evening, the DBPD revealed that 28-year-old Dennis Wright has been apprehended after the investigation determined that he was the one allegedly driving the grey Range Rover that struck Parsons at 12:33 a.m. May 1.
Parsons was given emergency medical attention by the arriving officer to his leg, which was eventually partially amputated in an effort to save his life. Unfortunately, the promising fighter sadly succumbed to the injuries on Wed., May 4. Our hearts went out and will continue to go out to his family and friends in this trying time.
Wright’s license is currently suspended, he has had his license suspended an alarming six times, and he also possesses a long, concerning history with several driving-based offenses such as DUI:
The statement alleged that Wright had been at a local bar with friends that night, and witnesses proclaimed that he was traveling at speeds between 100 and 120 miles per hour when the crash that took Parsons’ life occurred. He apparently did not stop during the accident, and his friends traveling behind him in a Mercedes didn’t either. Wright was driving his mother’s Range Rover and tried to have the damage on the vehicle repaired at a local shop but was turned away by the owner, so he rented a storage bay and hid the car there.
Investigators found the vehicle Friday without a driver’s side rearview mirror and matched it with the one they found at the scene. Wright is now facing charges including leaving the scene of a crash causing death, driving while license suspended as a habitual offender, and tampering with evidence.
Read the full details of the DBPD investigation into this unfortunate accident here:
Parsons was walking across Federal Highway at Lindell Boulevard. Wright, whose driver license is suspended, was driving his mother’s Range Rover south on Federal. A witness told investigators he thinks Wright was driving between 100 and 120 miles per hour when he hit Parsons, who was in the crosswalk. Parsons was wearing headphones and may have not heard the SUV coming.
Wright never stopped. Neither did his friends driving behind him in their Mercedes, which followed the Range Rover as it continued southbound. Meanwhile, DBPD Officer Derek Chahine, who had been nearby on a traffic stop, used a medical blanket from the trunk of his patrol car to apply pressure to Parson’s catastrophic leg injury until Delray Beach Fire Rescue arrived and transported Parsons to Delray Medical Center. He died May 4 from injuries sustained in the crash.
The following day, an anonymous tipster gave investigators Wright’s name. They quickly discovered that Wright’s mother owns a grey 2013 Range Rover Sport and were able to determine that Wright was driving the vehicle the night of the crash. Wright made an effort to have the damaged Range Rover repaired at a local body shop, but the owner refused to do the work, so Wright rented a bay at a storage facility and hid the SUV. Investigators recovered it on Friday, and it was missing the driver’s side mirror officers recovered at the scene. Wright, who arrived at the police department Saturday afternoon with his attorney, also faces charges of driving while license suspended as a habitual offender and tampering with evidence. His criminal history includes arrests for DUI, disorderly intoxication, marijuana possession and assault on an officer or firefighter, among other charges.
The crash investigation is ongoing. Witnesses told investigators that Wright was at Buddha Sky Bar on East Atlantic Avenue Saturday night with friends.
