Niagara police search for known witness as hit-and-run investigation turned over to homicide

Niagara police have released a name and an image of someone they call a person of interest after a fatal hit-and-run in Lincoln.

Officers say 82-year-old Larry Pearce from St. Catharines died in hospital after he was struck by his own car after it was taken from him.

After a few days of looking into what they describe as a “heinous crime”, Niagara police were able to identify someone who was in the park at the time of the incident.

Homicide detectives say 50-year-old Davy Rocchetti of no fixed address is not a suspect at this time, but homicide investigators want to speak with him.

Police add that Rocchetti has a number of outstanding charges and they’re encouraging him to get a lawyer and turn himself in.

READ MORE: Niagara police investigate following fatal hit-and-run in Lincoln

Niagara police say it was July 17, when Pearce was set to leave Charles Daley Park in Lincoln, some time after 9:30 a.m.

Investigators believe as Pearce was leaving, he was stopped by someone at the entrance and an altercation happened.

The suspect then got behind the wheel of Pearce’s Honda CR-V and Pearce tried to prevent him from driving away.

The vehicle then struck Pearce and the suspect fled in his vehicle, last seen on the QEW Niagara-bound from Seventh Street.

“What I can say at this point is that the vehicle did strike Mr. Pearce and as a result of that contact, he fell backwards, striking his head on the pavement,” says Insp. Andrew Knevel from Niagara Regional Police Service.

READ MORE: Three people dead after early morning Niagara-On-The-Lake collision

“Rocchetti is a person of interest. He may be a witness to this incident, where we would want to speak with him. Should some evidence come to light that elevates his status to that of a suspect, it all depends on where the investigation ultimately leads us as we follow the evidence.”

The stolen vehicle police are looking for is a grey, 2012 Honda CR-V.

It was equipped with two roof racks at the time it was taken and had an Ontario license plate with the number 24FS30.

Niagara police say Rocchetti was spotted at Charles Daley Park the day before the incident and had stayed overnight at the park according to witnesses who interacted with him the next morning.

Police say Rocchetti has outstanding warrants for mischief, theft, operating a vehicle while prohibited to do so and violating probation.

They’re asking the public if they spot Rocchetti to not approach him and contact them right away.

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