Man accused in Pompano Beach hit-run back in jail

DAVIE – A man who spent more than four months as a fugitive after being charged in a hitand-run crash that left a Pompano Beach man a paraplegic is back in custody, authorities said.

Thomas Pathammavong, 24, of Homestead, surrendered about 10:30 p.m. Saturday at the Broward County jail, according to records.

Pathammavong was arrested in April 2015 and charged with reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident and several other charges in connection with the Dec. 24, 2014, crash that critically injured Robert Games.

Games, 45, was on a motorcycle and stopped at a red light on Federal Highway at Northeast 14th Street in Pompano Beach when a pickup struck him from behind, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.

The driver fled the scene, detectives said.

During the investigation that led to Pathammavong's arrest, detectives learned that the suspect pickup truck was believed to have been involved in another hit and run in Lighthouse Point, and that the driver was fleeing from that scene when he smashed into Games.

Pathammavong also faces charges of tampering with physical evidence and making a false crime report after investigators said he made up a story about the 2005 Chevrolet Silverado being stolen the day before the crash. The truck was later found at a vehicle auction company in Pembroke Pines, detectives said.

Pathammavong was free on $5,800 bond when he failed to show up for a court hearing in September, according to records. A warrant for his arrest was issued.

Games, who has returned to work part-time for his longtime employer, an Oakland Park pest control firm, said he was pleased to know that Pathammavong is in custody.

“After what he did to me, it means a lot to know he won’t be out there endangering anyone else,” Games said.

Joseph Burke, a Broward public defender representing Pathammavong, declined comment.

Pathammavong, now held with bond, is due to appear before Broward Circuit Judge Barbara Duffy at 9 a.m. Thursday.