An arrest has been made in connection with the hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of Temple University student Bryce Wolfe last month.
The U.S. Marshals Service says 48-year-old Derek Reid was taken into custody Thursday.
Robert Clark, the Supervisory Deputy with the U.S. Marshal's Fugitive Task Force in Philadelphia, said the Philadelphia Crash Investigation Division reached out to the task force last week asking for assistance to apprehend Reid, who had become the main suspect in the fatal hit-and-run.
"When they started investigating, they realized he already had a felony warrant for his arrest," Clark explained. That warrant was for the rape of a child in 2021.
According to Clark, the task force worked to track down locations Reid had been frequenting.
"This was someone that was very transient. He knows the criminal justice system," Clark said. "He knows that he was being looked for. We conducted hours of surveillance over the last 72 hours."
Because Reid was often spotted wearing face coverings to mask his appearance, officials had a hard time identifying him.
Temple student killed in hit-and-run on Kelly Drive; parents plead for help
However, around 5 a.m. Thursday, the task force covered about five locations Reid had been frequenting.
"Late in the morning, he pulled up to one of those locations and we were able to arrest him without incident," Clark said.
Reid was taken into custody along the 7200 block of Briar Road in West Oak Lane. A neighbor told Action News that Reid was there to mow her lawn.
Clark said they determined Reid had been acting as a handyman in West Oak Lane and Wyncote.
Speaking about the arrest, Clark said, "I think he was glad that it was over. He was tired. He was visibly upset. He had concerns for his children... He had made the statement that he knew law enforcement was looking for him."
Reid is now facing charges in the child rape case.
According to Philadelphia Police, charges related to the fatal hit-and-run investigation are pending. There was no word on what charges he could face in connection with the crash.
READ MORE | Temple student killed in hit-and-run on Kelly Drive; parents plead for help
Deputy Clark gave credit to Philadelphia police, saying the department did a thorough job investigating this case.
"It involved the death of a 20-year-old student, and a lot of us are fathers. We took this case very seriously. It's an innocent victim here," Clark said. "We hope that this arrest brings closure for the victim and the family. That was our goal here," he added.
Clark said Reid has a significant criminal history, but it does not include major crimes of violence.
On Thursday night, Action News spoke with Lori and Clarence Wolfe, the parents of the victim of the fatal hit-and-run, 20-year-old Bryce Wolfe.
Lori said, "Though we are grateful the criminal was caught, it doesn't bring our son back... I want a conviction. I want him to pay. My son paid with his life."
Wolfe was killed in a collision at the intersection of Kelly and Reservoir drives around 11:15 p.m. on June 24.
Investigators said the driver of an SUV was traveling eastbound on Kelly Drive and attempted to make an illegal U-turn onto Reservoir Drive.
According to police, Reid apparently realized the turn could not be completed and, while attempting to re-enter the travel lane, drove into the path of Wolfe's motorcycle.
After the collision, Wolfe became trapped beneath the SUV and was dragged for more than a mile as the driver fled the scene, authorities said.
Wolfe was taken to a hospital with critical injuries and died at 4:41 a.m. the following day.
"To know your child was under that car in pain, and you protected him his whole life, did everything you could, and you couldn't be there to help him," Clarence said.
"There is not a day that goes by that you don't feel the pain of the loss of your child, and you cry every day. It's the worst pain on the face of this earth."
While their hearts remain broken, the Wolfe family is resolute. They said they will do whatever it takes to get justice for their son.
"We will do whatever we have to make sure he is held accountable. If it means moving heaven and earth, we will be there. Our son did not ask for this, and he deserves justice," Lori told Action News.
Clarence added, "Our son would never forgive us if we did not fight with every last ounce of power that we have."
The Wolfes thanked the Philadelphia Police Crash Investigation Division for the work they have done to make an arrest in this case.