Fleeing Vehicle Strikes Melbourne Police Officer, Driver Charged With Attempted Murder
By Space Coast Daily // July 18, 2016
Octavius Merrill Weaver of cocoa arrested
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Melbourne police officers arrested Octavius Merrill Weaver, 26, in the early morning hours of Monday and charged him with attempted Murder on a Law Enforcement Officer, Aggravated Fleeing, reckless driving and Driving on a suspended license.
According to Melbourne Police Lt. T.A. Turner, the incident began Monday at 1:13 a.m. when officers spotted a black Ford Sport Track Truck that was reported stolen from the Rockledge Police Department
Officers then attempted a traffic stop in the area of Lipscomb Street and University Boulevard. When the vehicle failed to stop, and accelerated east on University Boulevard to U.S. 1, stop sticks were deployed at Brevard Avenue and U.S. 1.
“The fleeing vehicle changed lanes to avoid the stop sticks and drove directly at a police officer, striking him,” said Lt. Turner.
“The vehicle then continued west on Brevard Drive, and north on Babcock Street, where pursuit intervention technique (PIT) maneuver was utilized to stop the vehicle. It spun around and rolled over. Two occupants were removed from the vehicle and the driver was identified as Weaver.”
Both suspects were transported to Holmes Regional Medical Center.
Weaver, of 903 Avon Place in Cocoa, was evaluated and released into the custody of the Melbourne Police Department where he was charged with attempted murder on a law enforcement officer.
Two firearms were recovered from the vehicle and additional charges are pending.
The injured officer was treated at Holmes Regional Medical Center.
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