BCSO Takes Down Burglary Suspect With Help From Alert Citizens In Melbourne Beach
By Space Coast Daily // May 30, 2017
27-year-old Michael Stankowitz Arrested
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 27-year-old Michael Stankowitz, from Melbourne, for a series of vehicle burglaries that occurred on Memorial Day in Melbourne Beach, according to Tod Goodyear of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.
The arrest occurred shortly after noon on Monday, when deputies responded to the beach access at Oak Street and South Atlantic in Melbourne Beach about a burglary of a vehicle.
When BCSO deputies arrived they met with the victim who provided the description of the suspect who had been acting suspicious in the area and the description of the vehicle the suspect was driving.
While deputies were investigating the case, a person passing by told the deputies that a man was breaking into a vehicle at the next beach access to the north of where they were located.
The person provided the tip to police stated the suspect was driving a grey minivan.
“As deputies responded to the area, they observed a vehicle matching that description leaving the beach access. Deputies initiated a traffic stop, at which time the driver attempted to flee on foot,” said Goodyear.
“The driver was later identified as Stankowitz and was taken into custody without incident.”
Upon searching the vehicle, deputies observed two children, a 4-year-old and 2-year-old, in the vehicle.
The children were in car seats, but not wearing seatbelts.
Stankowitz was charged with four counts of burglary of a conveyance, three counts of grand theft, petit theft, criminal mischief, violation of probation and two counts of child neglect.
Stankowitz was transported to the Brevard County Jail where he remains on a no bond status.
Related Story:Arrests In Brevard County: May 30, 2017 – Suspects Presumed Innocent Until Proven Guilty
Authorities say the children were turned over to Stankowitz’s wife and agents located the items the suspect stole from the vehicles during the break-ins.
BCSO Agents from the South Precinct General Crimes Unit responded to the scene and completed the investigation into the series of burglaries that occurred in the area.
Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to please contact Agent Joseph Bracey with our South Precinct General Crimes Unit at 321-253-6683.
