MELBOURNE, Fla. – A 33-year-old Palm Bay man was arrested Monday in connection with a 2021 hit-and-run crash that killed a manager of a Melbourne restaurant, police said.
Benjamin Jay Moore was arrested on charges of vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of a crash with a death and tampering with physical evidence.
Melbourne police said an extensive investigation led to the arrest of Moore, who’s accused of striking and killing Natanael “Puppy” Real, 28, of Melbourne, in November 2021.
Real was fatally struck by a pickup truck traveling about 25 mph over the speed limit in the early morning of Nov. 27 on U.S. 1 between New Haven and Strawbridge avenues near The Mansion, his place of work, police said.
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He was found lying dead on South Harbor City Boulevard around 2 a.m. that morning, alongside a stray vehicle parts and other debris from the wreck, an affidavit shows.
The next day, the suspect’s attorney gave police the keys and location of the vehicle from the hit-and-run crash, saying “do whatever you want with the vehicle,” according to the affidavit.
The suspected vehicle was found abandoned on Emerson Drive Northwest, about a half mile east of St. Johns Heritage Parkway in Palm Bay, with a removed headlight and extensive damage to the front passenger side, the affidavit shows.
Videos captured the car involved in the crash fleeing and eventually turning into Country Garden Apartments II, where Moore lives, located at 1688 Sunny Brook Lane in Palm Bay. The affidavit shows he then went to Malabar Discount Beverage to buy cigarettes and a drink at approximately 10 a.m. and then to MetroPCS store around 6:40 p.m. to buy a new cellphone on Nov. 27.
Police said they were eventually able to identify Moore through cellphone data and DNA evidence.
Authorities determined Friday that Moore was the driver, and he was taken into custody on Monday, according to officers.
Moore then posted a $90,000 bond after appearing before a judge at the Brevard County jail.
His attorney argued he’s innocent.
“There’s literally nothing contained within this affidavit that puts Mr. Moore behind the wheel of the car,” Patrick Landy said. “Literally, the only thing that the state’s alleging is that Mr. Moore was the co-registered owner of the vehicle.”
Moore is due back in court next month for his arraignment on his charges.