COLUMBUS - A man charged with the hit-and-run death of a police officer a year and a half ago had been a suspect for several months, his attorney said Wednesday.

        Police had interviewed Marconi Terrell Harris extensively, attorney Charles Blum said. He said he doesn't know what evidence police have against his client or where they got it.

        Police wouldn't say what led them to Mr. Harris, who was charged with fleeing the accident that killed Lt. Chris Claypool, a 13-year police veteran.

        Lt. Claypool, 39, was struck early April 29, 2001, while walking across an intersection to investigate a minor traffic accident. Witnesses didn't get a good look at the car because it was dark.

        “This was like a giant jigsaw puzzle. These guys had to put a million pieces together,” Deputy Chief John Rockwell said.

        Police had repeatedly asked the public for help solving the case, seeking reports of cars that looked damaged. Hundreds of tips were received on telephone lines staffed around the clock, and a reward fund totaling more than $20,000 was established.

        Officers volunteered their time off the job to work the phone lines and to search for suspects.

        “We got hundreds and hundreds of tips. We ran all those tips down. Most recently, we settled on Harris,” Sgt. Ron Roberts said.

        Mr. Harris, 28, of Columbus, was arrested Tuesday night while riding as a passenger in a pickup truck. He was charged with hit-skip and cocaine possession and was scheduled to be arraigned today in Franklin County Municipal Court, Prosecutor Ron O'Brien said.

        Mr. Harris has been arrested previously on drug, assault and weapons charges, according to the state prisons department and court records.

        Some witnesses said they thought the car that hit Lt. Claypool was a metallic dark green color, and green paint chips were found at the scene, said Sgt. Earl Smith, a police spokesman. He said Mr. Harris drives a green 1970 Buick Skylark.

        However, Mr. Blum said the make of Mr. Harris' car doesn't mean he's guilty.

        “The only thing that's interesting to me is they haven't charged him with any traffic violation accept for hit-skip,” Mr. Blum said. “They haven't said: The accident is your fault.”'

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