GULF SHORES, Ala. – After finding the vehicle they believe was involved in a hit-and-run fatality on Feb. 21, Gulf Shores police arrested Melvin Dennis Hutcheson early Tuesday afternoon.
The vehicle, a 2001 black Ford Explorer was found in …
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GULF SHORES, Ala. – After finding the vehicle they believe was involved in a hit-and-run fatality on Feb. 21, Gulf Shores police arrested Melvin Dennis Hutcheson early Tuesday afternoon.
The vehicle, a 2001 black Ford Explorer was found in Etowah County this weekend.
“We’re confident we have the vehicle that was involved in the collision,” Sgt. Jason Woodruff said. “The vehicle was located late Friday night up in Etowah County. We sent detectives up there to recover it. They brought it back down to FBI Mobile and their evidence response team processed it for us.”
After putting out a statewide and nationwide alert for the vehicle, a deputy in Etowah on another call spotted the vehicle and had it towed to Attala where it was retrieved by Gulf Shores officers.
“We’ve got information and have reason to believe that he drove it there,” Woodruff said.
Hutcheson, 52, has been suspected as the owner of the vehicle and faces a leaving the scene of an accident charges. According to police, that is a Class C felony which carries a sentence of two to 20 years.
“We obtained a warrant this morning for Hutcheson for leaving the scene of an accident involving injury or a death,” Woodruff said. “He was located just after 12:30 by some of our officers and arrested.”
In a release from Gulf Shores police, Chief Ed Delmore would especially like to thank FBI Special Agent in Charge Matt Chapman for the assistance of the FBI Mobile Division’s Evidence Response Team (ERT) and Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin for his Investigative Division’s assistance to GSPD detectives working in his county.
“This arrest is the result of a week-long, joint investigation between the Gulf Shores Police Department and numerous law enforcement agencies across Alabama,” Delmore said in the release.
This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Sergeant Jason Woodruff at 251-968-1238. During non-business hours or weekends, calls should be directed to 251-968-2431. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the GSPD Crime Line at 251-968-1499.
