By Khalida Sarwari
A 21-year-old Santa Cruz man has been arrested in connection with the hit-and-run death of Zachary Parke near the University of California at Santa Cruz campus last week.
An arrest warrant was issued this morning for Elliott Sterling Dess, following an investigation by the California Highway Patrol into the June 8 hit-and-run.
Investigators believe Dess was behind the wheel of a 1998 Nissan Maxima that struck Parke as he was riding his bike on Empire Grade Road south of Heller Drive.
Parke, who is a 25-year-old resident of Santa Cruz, was found dead by a passing cyclist on the morning of June 8.
Dess turned himself in at the Santa Cruz CHP office around 9:05 a.m. today, according to the CHP.
He was booked into Santa Cruz County jail on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run. His bail has been set at $100,000.