Judge denies bond reduction for accused hit-and-run driver

Scott Roman, 47, held in Broward County Jail on $1 million bond

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. ā€“ A Fort Lauderdale man accused of fatally striking a man who was riding a Go-Ped in May has asked a Broward County judge to lower his $1 million bond.

Judge Barbara McCarthy spent the better part of two days listening to testimony and decided Tuesday that the man's bond will remain as is.

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Scott Roman, 47, of Fort Lauderdale, was arrested Aug. 31 on a charge of leaving a scene involving a death and tampering with evidence.

Roman told the judge that he needs his bond lowered so he can care for his ill husband. He also claimed that the 10 percent required by the bondsman was too steep for him.

However, prosecutors said Roman is a flight risk and said he has more than enough money to pay his bond, citing his $880,000 waterfront home and a recent 9-day trip to Cambodia.

The victim, Joseph Deverson, 22, was taken to Broward Health Medical Center in the late evening of May 11 after he was struck by a car while riding his Go-Ped.

He was pronounced dead later that week.

According to detectives, Deverson was riding his Go-Ped on Powerline Road, just north of Oakland Park Boulevard, when he was hit. The driver, believed to be Roman, never stopped.

Deputies said it's possible that Roman didn't see Deverson, and if he had stayed at the scene, there's a chance that he wouldn't have been charged.

Detectives believe Roman had left Georgie's Alibi, a bar in Wilton Manors, shortly before the crash. Roman admitted to drinking at a bar that night, but claims a stranger drove him home.

Roman's white BMW was found days after the crash at The Palms condominiums in Fort Lauderdale.

Deputies said Roman told an employee at the building to make arrangements to have his vehicle repaired. They said the employee saw news reports about the crash and noticed that Roman's BMW had front-end damage and a missing passenger-side mirror.

Broward County Judge John Hurley previously ordered that Roman be placed under house arrest if he bonds out of jail. He must also surrender his passport, not travel to any port facility, operate a vehicle or drink alcohol.

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Jan. 21: Walter Reyes was killed and Henry Hernandez was injured in a hit-and-run crash while they were riding their bicycles on the Rickenbacker Causeway.


About the Author:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.