Deputy Shoots, Kills Dykeman During Traffic Stop

By  //  June 16, 2012

CSI BREVARD

[gmarker marker_latitude=”” marker_longitud=”” marker_label=””] [/gmarker]

 

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Benjamin Mayolas Dykeman was shot and killed by Brevard County Sheriff’s Deputy James Harrison at about 4 a.m. this morning during a traffic stop near Sabal Elementary School on Wickham Road in Melbourne.

Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Account:

This morning at approximately 4:11 a.m., Brevard County Sheriff’s Deputy James Harrison observed Benjamin Mayolas Dykeman, 31, driving erratically and attempted to perform a traffic stop on the vehicle, a Honda Accord.

Benjamin Mayolas Dykeman (BCSO image)

Dykeman initially pulled over in the area of Sabal Elementary School on Wickham Road in Melbourne.  As Harrison was walking up to the vehicle, the Dykeman accelerated striking the deputy’s vehicle as he fled from the scene.

The fleeing Dykeman then crashed his vehicle into a power pole at the intersection of Regency and Wickham Road, where Harrison again attempted to approach the vehicle.

Dykeman disregarded the deputy’s commands and intentionally operated the vehicle in a dangerous manner that caused the deputy to fear that he would be struck if he did not take immediate action.Harrison discharged his firearm, striking the driver.  Dykeman fled the scene and crashed into a tree at the east end of Regency Drive.  After his vehicle became disabled, Dykeman then fled the scene on foot.

Dykeman was located and apprehended in the entryway of an apartment complex located at 1093 June Drive after being tracked by a Melbourne Police K-9.  He was transported to Holmes Regional Medical Center where he later died as a result of his injuries.

Criminal History

Dykeman, of Melbourne, has a criminal history including previous arrests for Driving While License Revoked, Fleeing and Eluding Law Enforcement and Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer.

Harrison is a 13-year veteran of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and is currently assigned as a patrol deputy in the South Precinct.

The death investigation is ongoing and is being conducted by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit.  The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting an independent and parallel investigation regarding the use of deadly force.

Jack Parker (BCSO image)

In a prepared statement, Brevard County Sheriff Jack Parker stated, “Our deputies are trained to respond to life and death situations and are forced to make split second decisions in the worst situations to protect themselves and others.  Deputy James Harrison is a highly respected and professional law enforcement officer who was forced to deal with a deadly threat.  We are thankful that no other persons were injured or killed as a result of the suspect’s actions and we extend our most sincere condolences to the Dykeman family.”

Harrison has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, which is a common practice anytime a deputy is involved in a line-of-duty shooting.

9 Comments

  1. What you don’t know is that Ben Dykeman is an Iraq Vet who suffered from severe flashbacks and drank to forget…..Ben had a severe flashback when he was pulled over the first time and probably was drinking and had another flashback recently when he probably thought he was under attack. His job in Iraq was driving convoys – He was going to the Melbourne Vet Center for PTSD Treatment – he was attending college and has a 4 yr old boy who he adores

    • This comes to a surprise to me. I went to High school with Ben and its hard to believe that he react the way he did. As a Vet myself and working in Iraq and Afghanistan I now understand the troubles Ben was going through. This really hit close to home and it raises the issues that our troops are coming home with these PTSD issue. To the Dykman family (Pete) keep your head up we lost a good brother.

  2. To the family of Ben”jammin”, many of us at work were grieved to hear what happened. He did his best to make people laugh, even creating a rap song for a work assignment that made everybody’s day. He was happy about going to Keiser, and loved to talk about his son. The happiness and misery that come to us we experience as individuals, but are not for us alone. They are for mankind. When we thank God in our joy or cry to Him in our pain, we articulate the prayers of the world – prayers which, for this reason or that, perhaps can not be articulated in some hearts. Ben was loved and will be missed.

  3. Such a senseless and unnecessary killing. Police seem to be adopting a shoot to kill mentality in the area. My heart grieve for the family. Another boy has to grow up without a dad.

  4. Mrs. Dykeman, I am truly sorry to hear about both of your losses. God will take care of you.

  5. Ben was one of my husband’s close friends and I am appalled to see that the report failed to mention his service to this country. He came back for war and he was never the same.

  6. Plain and simple, Sister Mary Frances or this guy, doesn’t matter what he did where he was or even who he was, he committed a crime and has priors no excuse, my family is military, retired, active and disabled, no excuse. I don’t condone what was done but it was a reaction to an illegal action, the punishment did not fit the crime but a crime none the less, best to do is drop it as there is no absolution here.

  7. I just heard about this from another close friend of Ben’s. My sincere condolences to his family. I know these are touchy circumstances all-around when you mix ex-military with police. Been on both sides.

  8. @aspenzs I pray that u don’t ever experience a traumatic experience that alters your mental capabilities. And keep n mind a traumatic experience can happen anywhere anytime. Then you will want somebody to understand you. You can’t judge his situation just because you have a military family. This means that if your family goes to war and come back with PTSD they should still be accountable. All the people born with, or acquired, mental issues should be accountable for their actions right???

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*