Wrong man arrested in connection with death of Arlington police officer Darrin McMichael, new suspect in custody

LOS ANGELES — Authorities say they arrested the wrong man in the 2023 case of Arlington police officer Darrin McMichael Hit and run resulting in deathThey also say another suspect is in custody.

The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office said charges against Joshua Watson have been dropped following further investigation. The dismissal came days after his February arrest and release from the Dallas County Jail.

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Investigators say the suspect in the deadly crime is 22-year-old Ryan Shamar Luckett, who spoke with investigators before Watson was arrested. When Dallas authorities issued an arrest warrant, Luckett was already in custody at the Hinds County Jail in Jackson, Mississippi, on a parole violation for a previous offense.

Authorities were able to track down Watson months after the hit-and-run accident because of phones using cell towers near the crash scene – one of which was Luckett’s phone. Investigators said they saw Luckett frequently calling Watson. The arrest affidavit said Luckett told investigators Watson was the driver, although he admitted he was also in the car.

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Luckett is currently in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Correction and has been remanded in custody by the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department pending his release.