State Attorney Finds Brevard Deputies Actions ‘Justifiable’ After Army Vet Attacks Deputy During Booking
By Space Coast Daily // July 2, 2019
no charges filed from State Attorney's Office
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The State Attorney’s Office has found that the Use of Force by Brevard County Corrections Deputies was ‘reasonable and justifiable’ by state law when an altercation took place at the Brevard County Jail Complex on December 9, 2018.
The report says 38-year-old Gregory Edwards, an Army veteran, died after he suffered a medical event when he became violent and attacked a BCSO Corrections deputy during booking.
The deputy was seriously injured as a result from the altercation.
After the altercation, deputies subdued Edwards after he physically resisted deputies. When Edwards was eventually back under deputies’ control, he was taken to the hospital when he suffered a medical event.
Edwards later died the next day at Rockledge Regional Medical Center.
A medical examiner ruled his death as “Accidental and the cause Excited Delirium and Complications.”
Edwards was initially arrested by the West Melbourne Police Department after he allegedly battered a worker at a children’s charity event earlier in the day. Police say Edwards then began acting erratic and combative with the West Melbourne officers during the arrest.
State Attorney Phil Archer says deputies actions on December 9 were “completely justified the escalation of use of force techniques to gain control.”
Archer continued, “I further commend the deputies and the staff at the jail in the actions they took in attending to Mr. Edwards after it became apparent
he was in distress.”
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