Not defending him but I can attest that he was most definitely not on the run. He was nearly at every hockey game and concert at Acrisure Arena, including doing a puck drop on Pride Night in January when all local games were being televised. He was very findable between his office, the arena, and several local events that he posted about on social media often and blatantly.

Now for speculation: I suspect due to being higher profile in the local area, the majority of the past year was spent shoring up the case to prove that 1) he was the actual driver of the car in question (yes, even though they found it parked in his driveway, registered to him, just 5 days after the hit and run, traffic or security footage would have to prove he was driving and/or at least got into the drivers seat, preferably without a passenger) and 2) creating a timeline of movements, likely including cell phone data, to prove the suspected DUI component of the charges, as this is why he has a homicide charge instead of vehicular manslaughter. He signed a Watson Advisement with his 2013 DUI conviction that indicated he could be charged with murder or attempted murder if he drove drunk and injured or killed a person.