Thread: Illegal Arrested In Hit and Run of Man in Wheelchair

http://cbs4.com/local/Dania.Beach.Wheel ... 96063.html

Arrest In Deadly Hit & Run Of A Man In Wheelchair
Man Is Accused Of A Fatal Hit-And-Run In Which A Man In A Wheelchair Was Killed In Dania Beach

The Broward Sheriff's Office said 34-year old Hugo Detteren was behind the wheel of the 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac that struck Kenneth Scotto, 57, as he tried to cross Federal Highway near 9th Street.

Detteren, in a Broward County jail, was charged with one count of leaving the scene of an accident involving the fatality. He was also arrested on warrant for a probation violation involving another reckless driving charge.

At a news conference, Larry Akers, a Broward Sheriff's Office spokesman, said, "He (Detteren) was upset," but the crime speaks for itself. Akers added the accused man had a previous incident of reckless driving and was in the United States illegally from Argentina.

On hearing the news of the arrest, Brenda Ortiz. Scotto's girlfriend for 14 years, asked, "They have someone in custody?" she asked CBS4 Reporter Ted Scouten. She then folded her hands in prayer and said, "Thank you, God."

Ortiz explained he "was almost across Federal Highway, and then he would have been in the gate, and then home."

A witness described the scene of the fatal accident, "He flew out that chair," said Sharonda Scott. "It looked fake; it looked like a doll baby."

Scott said she then watched as the driver took off. "The truck pulled over for a minute, a quick second, but once the traffic got heavy and everyone was mashing on the brakes, he just took off."

The day he died, Ortiz said Scotto planned to visit a friend while she cooked dinner. He never made it to that friend's home.

© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc.

Oh lord no .......

Why wasn't this guy's visa revoked after the first offense???
DANIA BEACH
Driver charged in fatal hit-and-run of man in wheelchair
A Hollywood man has been charged with plowing into a man in a wheelchair on U.S. 1 with his truck and then leaving him to die.
Arrest made in Broward fatal hit-and run
Tips to police and a broken light lead to the arrest of a suspect in the hit-and-run death of a wheelchair-bound man.

Arrest made in Broward fatal hit-and run
Tips to police and a broken light lead to the arrest of a suspect in the hit-and-run death of a wheelchair-bound man.

Kenneth Scotto and girlfriend Brenda Ortiz pose in a 2-year-old photo. Scotto died in a hit and run accident in Dania Beach this past weekend. PROVIDED BY BRENDA ORTIZ
Arrest made in Broward fatal hit-and run
Photo BY DAVID SMILEY
dsmiley@MiamiHerald.com
A steady stream of tips and a reconstructed headlight lens led police to the driver who struck and killed a man in a wheelchair Sunday night in Dania Beach and then kept driving, the Broward Sheriff's Office said Tuesday.

Hugo Daniel Detteren, 34, has been charged with leaving the scene of a traffic crash involving a death, and violation of probation for a previous reckless driving charge.

According to BSO, Detteren struck and killed Kenneth Scotto, 57, about 6:34 p.m. Sunday in the 900 block of South Federal Highway.

Scotto, investigators say, was heading west across the southbound lanes of the busy street in his wheelchair when Detteren plowed into him with his truck.

''He didn't stop and he didn't attempt to render aid,'' said Sgt. Larry Akers.

Scotto was pronounced dead at the scene, located just a few dozen feet from the apartment where he lived with his longtime girlfriend, Brenda Ortiz.

''We've all been praying for justice,'' Ortiz said through tears Tuesday after learning of Detteren's arrest. ``Now I have a little closure.''

Tips flooded into Broward Crime Stoppers after local media publicized the crash and information from BSO that a maroon or Burgundy truck struck Scotto.

Then, after a shattered lens that broke off from the truck's right front headlight was reconstructed with crazy glue, Detective Michael Wiley learned from a Ford dealership that the truck was a 2001-2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac.

After releasing that information, a tip led investigators to Detteren's Hollywood apartment Monday evening.

When police arrived, Detteren came outside and told them he was involved in the crash, Akers said.

Detteren was charged Tuesday morning and was in custody at the Broward County main jail in Fort Lauderdale.

Police impounded Detteren's red, damaged 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac.

Detteren told investigators that he didn't stop because he was scared, Akers said.

''That somebody would strike someone in a wheelchair and leave the scene speaks for itself,'' Akers said.

Detteren has twice been charged with driving under the influence, according to Florida Department of Law Enforcement records.

He pleaded no contest to a 2004 charge stemming from an incident in Sunrise and was sentenced to one year of probation. He again pleaded no contest to a January 2007 charge of reckless driving and received nine months' probation.

Detteren, originally from Argentina, is currently in the country on a work visa, Akers said Tuesday. Investigators are now trying to determine whether the visa is still valid.

Scotto suffered from diabetes. His condition had recently worsened, forcing him to use a wheelchair when he needed to travel long distances, Ortiz said.

Scotto retired last February from his job as a mover at United Van Lines. He then moved into an assisted living facility in April and stayed there for five months before the couple moved into an apartment at 25 SW 10th St.

Ortiz, 53, said Scotto was a macho man. He enjoyed fishing and football, and surprised her Sunday when he left to go visit a friend during the Dolphins-Jets game. She wanted to go with him, but he refused.

Ortiz, who lived with Scotto the past 13 years, thanked the person who tipped off police about Detteren, and also thanked Wiley for finding the truck.

Said Ortiz: ``He's still gone. He's still dead. But at least now it's not in vain.''

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southfl ... 32118.html

The latest update is that this guy is not getting bond and there is an immigration hold on him. He has a visa because he married an American and thus has a visa while waiting for his greencard. It allows him to work and have a driver's license. Just because he married an Amercian doesn't mean that he would have been allowed to stay as immigration has really become tough on those marriages. I think this guy will end up back in Argentina.

Detteren, in a Broward County jail, was charged with one count of leaving the scene of an accident involving the fatality. He was also arrested on warrant for a probation violation involving another reckless driving charge.

Who gave the illegal alien probation in the 1st place. He should have been jailed and deported before he caused this murder.

Unfortunately he married an American citizen for a greencard.

If the wife had any sense, she would divorce this guy immediately as this guy will not bring her any benefit, and it is beginning to sound that she has to really work hard for money to bail him out, plus pay for all the damages he is causing.

I moved this from Other Topics into News Stories.

It's just revolting that anyone would harm another person and run from the scene...but a man in a wheelchair??? I'm really fed up with these third worlders and their low ways messing up this nation. This has got to stop!