ARLINGTON, Texas — After nearly 10 months, the deadly crash involving Arlington Motorcycle Officer Darrin McMichael has a new suspect.
Dallas County Sheriff Marian Brown announced an arrest warrant for 22-year-old Ryan Luckett in Jackson, Mississippi.
"He will be detained there until his opportunity to come here exists," Sheriff Marian Brown said, "But when he has completed his business with Hinds County. Then he will come to Dallas County."
Last September, McMichael's motorcycle collided with an SUV in heavy traffic on I-20 as he was heading to work. He was then hit by another car and the driver took off.
McMichael's wife, who also works for the Arlington Police Department, was behind him on her way to work. She witnessed the horrific crash.
In February, deputies reportedly used cell tower connections to arrest and charge a 26-year-old man for his involvement in the incident. But in the same month, prosecutors dropped charges.
Sheriff Marian Brown explained during a news briefing Friday afternoon why the change in the case during their ongoing investigation.
"It was in an interest of justice that we dropped the charges on the one individual and pursued the second," said Sheriff Brown.
Investigators linked Ryan Luckett, 22, to the case instead and issued a warrant for him, according to the sheriff’s office. At the time of the warrant, Luckett was in custody at the Hinds County Jail in Jackson Mississippi for parole violations.
This new arrest comes as no surprise to Law Enforcement expert Dr. Alex Del Carmen. Especially because of advanced detective work as Carmen has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience.
Carmen said, "Thank God for technology. I say that because if this had happened, you know, 20 years ago when cell phones were a rarity, they probably would still be talking about hypotheses as to who will kill the officer."
While keeping details about exactly what led them to Luckett close to the vest, Sheriff Brown says Luckett and the man who was initially charged were not strangers.
"I won't speak to what specifically came about as a result of the investigation," said Sheriff Marian Brown, "but they were known to one another."
Luckett has since been transferred to the Mississippi Department of Corrections and the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office has a detainer placed on him pending his release from the Mississippi Department of Corrections, deputies say.