Suspect In Officer-Involved Shooting Identified After Leading Deputies In Car Chase On SR 528
By Space Coast Daily // May 9, 2018
suspect identified as Blondine Valsaint
ABOVE VIDEO: Suspect In Officer-Involved Shooting Identified After Leading Deputies In Car Chase On SR 528.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Brevard County Sheriff’s Office has provided an update on the officer-involved shooting incident from May 3.
The suspect has been identified as Blondine Valsaint, 35, from Orlando.
According to the investigation, Brevard County Sheriff Office responded to an incident on Hartman Lane in Mims after a 911 call was received around 4:43 a.m. from a woman in a closet, who told dispatchers that her ex-boyfriend was outside her home and that she was in fear for her life.
When deputies arrived they found the ex-boyfriend and attempted to make contact with him. However, as deputies approached the man in his car, the man drove his vehicle towards the deputies, resulting in a Deputy Nathanael Rowell firing at the suspect.
The suspect then drove away from the scene and led deputies on a car chase along I-95 south to State Road 407 where the suspect travelled westbound to State Road 528. As the suspect traveled westbound on SR 528, a Brevard County Deputy performed a PIT maneuver on Valsaint’s vehicle just west of the Brevard County line and successfully disabled the vehicle.
Deputies arrested Valsaint and discovered that he had one gunshot wound. Valsaint was then transported to a hospital.
After the suspect was released from hospital, he was taken into custody by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and transported to the Brevard County Jail.
Valsaint has been charged with Aggravated Stalking, Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer and Aggravated Fleeing and Eluding. He is being held on a no bond status.
“Deputy Rowell has been a member of the Sheriff’s Office since August of 2015.” said Tod Goodyear of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.
“Deputy Rowell is currently assigned as a patrol deputy at our North Precinct, and, as is customary in officer involved shootings, Deputy Rowell has been placed on Administrative Leave pending the outcome of the investigation.”
The investigation of this incident is ongoing.
Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to please call Agent Troy Deavers of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit at 321-633-8413.
ABOVE VIDEO: SHERIFF IVEY’S PRESS CONFERENCE ON MAY 3
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