Police in south Florida have arrested a 28-year-old man in connection with a May 1 hit-and-run that killed professional mixed martial artist Jordan Parsons.
Dennis Wright was taken into custody after a six-day investigation, the Delray Beach Police Department said Saturday. According to police, an anonymous tip led to Wright's arrest. He is facing multiple charges, including leaving the scene of a crash causing death.
Parsons was struck by a gray SUV while he was crossing an intersection near his apartment. His leg was amputated in an effort to save his life, and he died three days later. He was 25. He was scheduled to fight at a Bellator MMA event on May 14 in San Jose.
According to police, a witness said that Wright was traveling "between 100 and 120 miles per hour" at the time of the accident and did not stop after hitting Parsons. Police say Wright's criminal history includes arrests for DUI, disorderly intoxication, marijuana possession and assault on an officer or firefighter. Police also say his license has been suspended six times, and that witnesses have placed him at a local bar before the accident.
Police have recovered a damaged, grey 2013 Range Rover Sport owned by Wright's mother. In a prepared statement, police said, "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."
Parsons (11-2) trained out of Blackzilians camp in Boca Raton, Florida. Neil Melanson, Parsons' grappling coach, told ESPN.com that Parsons was "a guy of great character, amazing work ethic, 100 percent committed to trying to be the best he could possibly be."
By Saturday, an online Go Fund Me page had raised more than $36,000 in donations toward Parsons' funeral costs.
