‘Lawyer up and contact police’: Investigators say suspect in fatal Mississauga hit-and-run removed licence plate before fleeing scene

Police say the driver wanted in a deadly hit-and-run removed their license plate after the collision at Eglinton Ave. and Fallingbrook Dr.

A male suspect wanted in a fatal hit-and-run in Mississauga over the weekend allegedly removed the rear licence plate of the vehicle he was driving and hid it in the truck before fleeing the scene.

The fail-to-remain crash happened last Friday at the intersection of Eglinton Avenue West and Fallingbrook Drive, west of Mavis Road.

Peel Regional Police said they were called to that area just after 9 p.m. for reports that an adult male pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle.

The victim, a 56-year-old man from Mississauga, later died of his injuries.

The driver, meanwhile, fled the scene westbound on Eglinton “without checking on the person they struck” and “did not render assistance,” they said.

Police say they’ve since obtained “extensive” and “damning” video footage from the vicinity of the collision that has helped them identify the suspect vehicle as a 2014-2018 Mini Cooper S 4-door, silver or grey with a black roof and unique rims.

The car has visible damage to the front passenger side, hood, and windshield, they noted.

“Investigators are currently reviewing additional footage obtained from high-definition cameras along the path the suspect drove and would like to thank the public for their ongoing assistance in this investigation,” Peel police said in a news release.

‘Opportunity to do something right’

Investigators are “strongly” advising the suspect to get a lawyer and surrender.

“He had the opportunity to call at least 911 didn’t do that. Instead, he chose to pull over and conceal the plates in an attempt to evade capture,” Const. Tyler Bell, of Peel Regional Police, told CP24’s Bakari Savage on Monday evening.

“So he has an opportunity to do something right now and lawyer up and contact police.”

They’re also urging any auto repair shops that have any vehicles matching this description to contact them or Crime Stoppers immediately.

“Every officer has, you know, an offense that particularly bothers them and I’ll say, for me, fail-to-remain or hit-and-runs are mine. And that’s the case for many of the investigators in the Major Collision Bureau that are tasked with determining who this individual is,” Bell said.

“We’re all very frustrated. This person didn’t even call 911. It’s one thing to flee the scene, but (to) not even check on the person that you hit. It’s pretty disgusting. And to only pull over and try to conceal your licence plate shows that there’s just no regard for anyone but themselves. It’s gross.”

Any witnesses or individuals who may have dashcam footage from the area at the time of the incident or anyone with any information is asked to contact Peel police’s Major Collision Bureau at 905-453-2121, ext. 3710, or Crime Stoppers anonymously.