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Four arrested in drug sweep in Hanover Township

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Luzerne County posts solicitation seeking new coroner

<p>HAZLETON &#8212; A Hazleton man was arraigned Wednesday on charges he failed to remain on the scene after striking a pedestrian who died last year.</p><p>David Hiram Dodd, 47, of Pardee Street, allegedly struck Domingo Perez, 64, in the area of 908 N. Church St. on Aug. 15, 2018.</p><p>Perez died a short time later at Lehigh Valley Hospital &#8212; Hazleton, police said.</p><p>Dodd was charged with accidents involving death, failure to report an accident and failure to render aid. He was released on $75,000 unsecured bail.</p><p>Court records say detectives recovered at the scene a passenger side mirror from a Pontiac Grand Am.</p><p>During the investigation, attorney Bruce Miller contacted detectives Aug. 27, 2018, indicating Dodd wanted to speak about the crash.</p><p>Dodd told detectives he was driving his son&#8217;s Grand Am with the music turned up. Dodd claimed it was raining and there was a glare on the windshield, court records say.</p><p>Dodd denied he struck anyone and only discovered he hit something when he returned home noticing a damaged windshield and a missing passenger side mirror, according to court records.</p><p>Dodd suggested he struck a small deer while driving through Butler Township.</p><p>Detectives learned Dodd submitted a claim to his insurance company for damage to the Pontiac. During a recording with the insurance company, Dodd stated he struck a person or a deer, court records say.</p><p>Police served a search warrant obtaining the recording that involves Dodd admitting he struck a person to an insurance agent, according to court records.</p><p>Police said Perez&#8217;s DNA was found on the damaged windshield, which was recovered from Dodd&#8217;s residence.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_David-Dodd-HazPD-09252019.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Dodd </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_David-Dodd-HazPD-09252019.jpg</photo0><caption0>Dodd </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Hazleton man charged with leaving scene of fatal pedestrian crash