Mims Suspect Forces Child Into Attic In Attempt To Avoid Arrest
By Space Coast Daily // August 15, 2019
Lawrence Kiehart arrested
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Earlier this week, Brevard County deputies from our North Precinct responded to an unincorporated Titusville address in reference to an alleged violation of a Court issued No Contact Order.
As deputies arrived at the residence, they observed 39-year-old Lawrence Kiehart, of Mims, outside of the residence with a woman and young child. Kiehart then took the child and fled into the residence.
BCSO Deputies ran into the residence and subsequently discovered Kiehart with the child, attempting to conceal himself in the attic area of an unfinished garage.
Kiehart refused to exit the cramped area, exposing himself and the child to an excessive temperature and nails that protruded from the ceiling, walls and floors.
Deputies repeatedly attempted to negotiate with Kiehart to release the child and surrender, but he refused as he attempted to use the child in his negotiation to avoid arrest.
After negotiations failed, the Deputies, along with a BCSO SWAT element, entered the area and apprehended Kiehart without further incident or injuries to the child.
The child was medically cleared by BCFR and subsequently released to his mother.
Kiehart was transported to the Brevard County Jail where he was held on a “NO BOND” status on charges of False Imprisonment of a Child, Child Abuse, Resisting an Officer without Violence, Violation of Conditions of Pre-trial Release and Tampering with a Witness.
To use and expose a very young child to harm for the sole purpose of threat and intimidation of the mother and as a negotiation prop is just about as disturbing as it can get. Thankfully this event had a safe ending, with mom and baby being unharmed and the bad guy going to jail!!
Please join me in thanking everyone involved in this investigation for their efforts to bring it to a safe conclusion for the victims!
– Sheriff Wayne Ivey
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