VALDOSTA – A Lowndes High School student was arrested Thursday in connection with a fatal hit-and-run incident in Daytona Beach that occurred early Sunday morning.
At 3:12 a.m., the Daytona Beach Police Department responded to the 100 block of Fairview Avenue to investigate a hit and run accident.
Roger Martin, 41, was riding his motorcycle when, according to police, he was targeted by the driver of a van.
Traffic camera footage shows the van moving past the camera with sparks coming out of the back end as it drags the motorcycle.
Daytona Beach Police Chief Chitwood authorized a $20,000 reward for anyone with information about Martin’s death that led to an arrest.
On Wednesday afternoon, DBPD Homicide Detectives Grant Karcher and David Dinardi identified a potential suspect vehicle used in the homicide of Roger Martin. Detectives utilized technology put in place by Chief Chitwood and found the suspect vehicle on several cameras throughout the City of Daytona Beach. I
In addition, some of the surveillance video was enhanced using Facelogics.com, which assisted in identifying the vehicle.
The suspect vehicle was identified as a green 2000 Dodge Caravan registered to Stanley Warren in Valdosta, Georgia.
Late Wednesday, Chief Chitwood sent Detectives Karcher and Dinardi to Lowndes County to continue the investigation.
On Thursday, the detectives met and worked with Lowndes County Sheriff’s detectives and located the suspect vehicle at Lowndes High School. With the assistance of Staff Sergeant Jack Winningham and Captain Stryde Jones, investigators identified three possible witnesses to the homicide: Stanley Warren, Travvon Rutledge, and Christopher Sauders.
All three cooperated with the investigation.
Detectives from DBPD and LCSO then located and interviewed Christopher Moore, 18. Moore was arrested and charged with Leaving the Scene of a Crash With Death (Felony, No Bond).
The incident started over an altercation outside of Cruisin Café, 2 S Atlantic Avenue in Daytona, Beach.
The altercation led to a second physical confrontation near Peninsula and Auditorium.
Moore, who was driving the van, told Rutledge and Sauders that “I’m about to go get them” and began driving aggressively to catch up to Martin and Peter Blais, Martin’s friend, who were on motorcycles.
The witnesses said Moore ran several stop lights and crossed medians to catch up to Martin and Blais before he purposefully rammed Martin’s motorcycle in the 100 block of Fairview.
Warren’s van was impounded and towed to the LCSO. Detectives are still obtaining search warrants in order to process it for evidence. Moore is expected to be extradited back to Volusia County at a later date and additional charges are pending.
Chief Chitwood would like to recognize the diligent assistance of ASA Ryan Will, Lowndes County Sheriff Chris Prine, Captain Stryde Jones, and Staff Sergeant Jack Winningham, and Valdosta Police Officer Jason York.
