JUPITER — Standing within the driveway of his Palm Seashore Gardens residence in January, Jason Todd Lengthy confirmed police investigators the shattered windshield on the passenger aspect of his 2013 maroon Honda Accord.
“This isn’t good,” he informed police, explaining that an unknown object had hit the windshield.
Lengthy mentioned he instantly pulled over and spent 10 minutes looking for the item. Nonetheless, witnesses informed investigators Lengthy really had fled the scene close to Abacoa Golf Membership in Jupiter after hanging and killing a 74-year-old pedestrian, based on a police account.
On Tuesday, Might 8, Jupiter police concluded a monthslong investigation, arresting Lengthy on one rely of leaving the scene of an accident within the Jan. 12 dying of Thomas Bertell of Jupiter.
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Lengthy, 50, turned himself in on the Jupiter Police Division and was later taken to the Palm Seashore County Jail. Throughout a court docket listening to the subsequent day, Circuit Decide Donald Hafele assigned Lengthy a public defender and set his bail at $50,000. Hafele additionally ordered that Lengthy give up his passport and that he chorus from driving.
As a coverage, the county Public Defender’s Workplace doesn’t touch upon open circumstances.
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In line with a Jupiter police report, the crash occurred shortly earlier than 7 p.m. on Jan. 12 close to Parkside Drive and College Boulevard, simply east of the golf membership. Lengthy referred to as greater than three hours later to report that he was leaving the membership after a spherical of golf when one thing hit his windshield. Investigators famous that his house is simply over 5 miles from the golf membership.
A pair touring in one other car simply previous to the crash informed investigators that Bertell was “clearly” seen as he was strolling throughout Parkside Drive. They informed police investigators {that a} dark-colored car ran a cease signal and didn’t try to brake because it struck Bertell. Each witnesses mentioned the car by no means stopped and fled the scene.
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An officer who spoke to Lengthy that evening famous that Lengthy smelled of alcohol and described him as unsteady on his ft. A workers administrator from the golf membership informed investigators that Lengthy ordered two blended vodka drinks whereas there, however “barely touched” the second drink.
DNA from a blood swab collected from the Honda’s windshield was confirmed to be a match to Bertell, police mentioned.
Lengthy is scheduled to look in court docket once more subsequent month, on-line information present.
Julius Whigham II is a legal justice and public security reporter for The Palm Seashore Submit. You may attain him atjwhigham@pbpost.com and comply with him on X, the platform previously often called Twitter, at@JuliusWhigham. Assist assist our work:Subscribe at the moment.
