Arrest Made In Methuen Hit-And-Run
METHUEN (CBS) -- An arrest has been made in Thursday night's Methuen hit-and-run.
Methuen police say they arrested 22-year-old Steven Toro near his home in Lawrence.
Police Captain Randy Haggar says his department had plenty of incentive for solving this case.
"When it involves a child, it hits us even harder," Haggar said. "Every officer that was involved was affected."
He says police officers tried to give 11-year-old Jaydee Soto CPR and, "They were with the family at the hospital."
Haggar says they believe they got the right man and he is now charged with several offenses.
"Steven Toro has been arrested and charged with motor vehicle homicide, leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, leaving the scene of a personal injury accident after causing the death of another to avoid prosecution, failure to yield to a pedestrian, speeding, and negligent operation of a motor vehicle," Haggar said.
Toro was then taken off to jail to await his first court appearance.
Haggar says that Toro was allegedly driving at a high rate of speed.
"Toro made no attempt to slow or stop before or after the crash, and instead fled from the scene down Broadway into Lawrence," Haggar said. "Soto was taken to Lawrence General where she was pronounced dead."
He says that damage to the alleged suspect's car was a key detail.
"We did recover the vehicle. The vehicle sustained damage to the left front head light area, which is consistent with evidence recovered at the scene," Haggar said. "There is also a large broken windshield at the bottom left corner of the windshield."
Haggar says that the Methuen Police took to social media and distributed photos to the news media and, "A flurry of tips came in and one of those tips ultimately led to the arrest of Soto."
Toro is the suspect in the fatal hit and run Thursday night that killed 11-year-old Jaydee Soto on Broadway Street.
Soto was crossing Broadway at Kirk Street with her stepfather and wanted to go to the dollar store with some money she had saved.
Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon says he believes tips from the public led to Toro's arrest.
Solomon also says that Toro is being held on $100,000 bail.
Methuen Police Captain Randy Haggar's Press Conference