A Florida man is charged with dragging the body of a pedestrian who allegedly hit his car Sunday before fleeing the scene and dumping most of the debris behind a local bait shop, according to authorities.
Joseph Charles Strickland, 28, of Weeki Wachee, was traveling on a highway north of Tampa early Sunday morning when his car struck the unidentified pedestrian, 32, who was walking down the road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. .
After the hit-and-run accident, they said the suspect traveled with the victim’s remains to the back of the Dixie Lee Bait store in Spring Hill. Strickland removed the wreckage from his vehicle and called his roommates to help him push the car back home, telling them he struck a deer, according to FHP.
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Joseph Charles Strickland, 28, of Weeki Wachee, was traveling on a highway north of Tampa early Sunday morning when his car struck the unidentified pedestrian, 32, who was walking down the road (Hernando County Sheriff’s Office)
Once he got home, he allegedly spray-painted over the damage, showered and slept, FOX 13 of Tampa Bay reported.
The next morning, Strickland’s roommate examined the vehicle and contacted police because he did not believe the car struck a deer, according to authorities. Around the same time, a human leg was seen on the side of the road near where the incident occurred, FHP said.
Using a corpse dog, authorities found the rest of the body behind the bait shop. Officers also went to Strickland’s home and found the vehicle.
The suspect tried to flee, but deputies from the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office captured him, FHP said.
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Strickland was arrested on charges that include leaving the scene of an accident involving a death, tampering with evidence, and not having a valid driver’s license or insurance.
He also had a warrant for personal injury, gross negligence and criminal vehicle operation in Minnesota, FOX 13 reported.
The highway patrol said it rolled a car into a ditch last year while trying to quickly get away from a police officer, according to KSTP-TV. Strickland and two of his passengers suffered non-life-threatening injuries and a third passenger was left in critical condition, according to the station.
It is unclear if Strickland has a lawyer.
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Weeki Wachee is about 50 miles north of Tampa.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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