Police apprehend suspect in fatal hit and run case

Police in Delaware arrested a man who left the scene of the fatal hit and run accident Monday night that killed senior Ashley Crouse. Police were able to track the man down with the assistance of the U.S. Marshal's and the IU Police Department.\nPolice learned the suspect fled Bloomington Tuesday evening on a Greyhound bus en route to Manor Park, Del., after speaking with his roommates. \nOriginally identified by police as Alberto DeJesus, Delaware officials determined his real name to be Meliton Espinosa Praxedis, 22, who police confirmed is an illegal immigrant from Mexico.\nA warrant was issued in the name of Alberto DeJesus, one of Praxedis' many aliases, Thursday for leaving the scene of the accident at the intersection of Third and Hawthorne Streets.\nCpl. Trinidad Navarro of the New Castle Police Department in Delaware said Praxedis is currently in custody. U.S. Marshal Supervisory Deputy Jason Wojdylo, whose organization "worked around the clock" to crack the case, said specific details of Praxedis' apprehension could not be discussed because of the ongoing investigation.\n"We worked through the night and are operating on no sleep, but we continue to push on," Wojdylo said. \nThe only information Wojdylo had on the apprehension was that it took place at approximately 6:30 a.m. Friday in a Delaware apartment complex. When police arrived on the scene, they determined Praxedis was the man they were looking for, as his photo matched a sketch produced by IUPD. Wojdylo said Praxedis had visible face lacerations at the time of his arrest.\n"We were happy to assist (IUPD) in tracking Praxedis down," Wojdylo said. "IUPD had all of the pieces to the puzzle and it was just a matter of sitting down and putting those pieces together."\nAccording to police reports Praxedis, who was driving his friend's gray Honda station wagon, struck a red Jeep carrying Crouse, her boyfriend junior Christopher Carlson and senior Julie Greenbaum. At the time of the accident, the stoplight directing westbound traffic on Third Street was flashing yellow while northbound and southbound traffic on Hawthorne Ave. had a flashing red light. Praxedis fled the scene on foot immediately after the crash.\nIUPD Lt. Steve Fiscus said the driver at fault could not be determined until the accident reconstruction team completed their investigation.\n"We believe speed was a huge factor," Fiscus said. "But it will be over a week before we can make an exact determination as to how this accident happened."\nAccording to the probable cause affidavit, during an interview, Praxedis roommates told police he had consumed "a lot of beer" prior to the Monday night's accident. IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger could not confirm or deny that information, but said it will be "very hard to prove" Praxedis had been drinking.\nPraxedis is currently awaiting to be expedited from Delaware to Bloomington. Minger said although Praxedis is currently facing a charge of leaving the scene of an accident, a Class C felony punishable by three to eight years in prision, it's possible he will face additional charges as more information arises in the case.