Brevard Sheriff’s Office Arrests Two Wanted Burglary Suspects, Thanks To Citizens Tips
By WAYNE IVEY, BREVARD SHERIFF // April 1, 2017
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Recently, two male suspects broke into the Old Florida Grill in Port St. John. The two suspects were recorded on surveillance video as they stole bottles of alcohol and placed them into backpacks.
The incident and suspect images were subsequently highlighted on Brevard County Sheriff Office Facebook Page where we asked our citizens for help in identifying the thieves. As usual our citizens came through on our request for assistance and provided information about the identity of the suspects.
As a direct result of your assistance, 18-year-old Richard Walsh and a 17-year-old Joseph Durante, both from Port St. John, were arrested for the burglary by Agents from our North Precinct General Crimes Unit.
The two were identified by several members of the community, who contacted the Sheriff’s Office and CRIMELINE after seeing images asking for the public’s assistance.
Both Walsh and Durante were incarcerated at the time of arrest for previous burglaries.
Both Walsh and Durante were charged with Burglary, Grand Theft, and Criminal Mischief. Walsh is currently residing at the Brevard County Jail on a $7,500 bond, and Durante is at the Juvenile Detention Center under a 21-day hold.
I would like to personally thank everyone who helped solve this case and bring these two thieves to justice!! Because of a great partnership with our citizens Brevard County is a safer place to call home!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey has been a law enforcement officer for over three decades. Sheriff Ivey is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and has a Bachelor’s Degree from Daytona State College in Management and Supervision. Sheriff Ivey’s background in law enforcement is inclusive of Management, Criminal Investigations, Narcotics, Patrol Services, Public Integrity Investigations, and Corrections.
Prior to being elected in 2012, Sheriff Ivey served the citizens of the State of Florida as a Resident Agent in Charge for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. As a member of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Sheriff Ivey developed and created the country’s first ever statewide Task Force on Identity Theft. That same year the Task Force was named one of the top five most innovative programs in the country by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and investigated approximately 44 million dollars in fraud cases. Additionally, as a member of FDLE, Sheriff Ivey created the Child Abduction Response Team (C.A.R.T) that re-defined the way Child Abduction cases are conducted throughout the country today. The program was later selected as the most innovative program in the country by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and is now used as a nationwide model in the response and investigation of child abductions.
Sheriff Ivey has testified before the United States Congress on law enforcement related matters and has extensive experience in the area of Public Integrity Investigations. Sheriff Ivey was honored as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Special Agent of the Year (1996) and was also recognized by the Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for his Outstanding Contributions to Criminal Justice. In August of 2011 Sheriff Ivey was honored by the National Organization of Victims Advocacy for his work at the national level as an advocate of victim’s rights and protection.
Sheriff Ivey speaks regularly on topics such as Identity Theft, Crime in America, Human Trafficking, Domestic Violence, and Self Defense through Mental Preparedness. Sheriff Ivey firmly believes that Crime Prevention and Education are vital to reduce our crime rate and protect our community.
