The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and Palm Bay Police Department combined to thwart the carjacking of a mother and her child by a convicted felon with a history of multiple violent offenses. Stephane Johnson, left, was taken into custody and charged with Carjacking and transported to the Brevard County Jail under a $100,000 bond. Kelvin Houston, right, was charged with Loitering and Prowling and transported to the Brevard County jail under a $1,000 bond. (BCSO image)
BREVARD COUNTY • MALABAR, FLORIDA – The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and Palm Bay Police Department combined to thwart the carjacking of a mother and her child by a convicted felon with a history of multiple violent offenses.
On Saturday evening, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office responded to Gilmore Street in Malabar in response to an emergency call regarding a possible carjacking incident, according to Cpl. Dave Jacobs, Public Information Officer and Media Relations Liaison for the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.
Cpl. Jacobs provided the following report of the incident:
Upon arrival, deputies located a 27-year-old mother who told the deputies that as she was putting her 2-year old child in the vehicle, she was approached by two men.
The first man, later identified as Stephane Derosier Johnson, 20, of Orlando, offered her $100 for a ride. When she declined the offer, the second man ran as Johnson jumped into the driver’s seat of her car.
With the vehicle’s engine already running to cool down the interior for the child, Johnson then put the vehicle into reverse in an attempt to leave with the child still inside the car.
The mother quickly jumped into the vehicle and started screaming as she scrambled to grab the key. She was successful in breaking the key off in the ignition, and then struggled with Johnson as she tried to put the gear back into park.
As the victim was attempting to stop Johnson from taking her vehicle and child, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Deputies and Palm Bay Police Officers arrived on scene and took Johnson into custody from the driver’s seat of the vehicle.
What seemed to be an almost immediate response by BCSO Deputies and Palm Bay Police Officers was because they were already in the area searching for the suspects as they had just fled from an unrelated vehicle that was reported stolen from Orange County.
Sheriff Wayne Ivey
“We are all very relieved that this young mother and child are safe and that our Deputies were able to quickly respond and remove another violent offender off our streets,” said Sheriff Wayne Ivey.
“There is absolutely no place in society for those who would prey upon a mother and child. While I don’t recommend ever breaking the law I would highly suggest that if you intend to break the law you don’t do it in Brevard County.”
Johnson was taken into custody and charged with Carjacking and transported to the Brevard County Jail under a $100,000 bond. Johnson is a convicted felon with a history of multiple violent offenses and was released in May of 2015 from the Florida Department of Corrections.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to please call Brevard County Sheriff’s Office South Precinct General Crimes Agent Jason West at 321-253-6683, or CRIMELINE at 1- 800-423-TIPS (8477).
The second suspect was quickly located in the area and identified as 23-year-old Kelvin Houston, also of Orlando. Houston was charged with Loitering and Prowling and transported to the Brevard County jail under a $1,000 bond.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to please call Brevard County Sheriff’s Office South Precinct General Crimes Agent Jason West at 321-253-6683, or CRIMELINE at 1- 800-423-TIPS (8477).
You can also visit Crimeline.org, or text ‘crimeline’ plus your tip to CRIME (274637). All information to CRIMELINE is confidential and you may be eligible for a reward.
ABOVE MAP:On Saturday evening, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office responded to Gilmore Street in Malabar in response to an emergency call regarding a possible carjacking incident, according to Cpl. Dave Jacobs, Public Information Officer and Media Relations Liaison for the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.
