Melbourne Police Apprehend Five Burglary/Theft Spree Suspects After Vehicle Pursuit, Wound One

By  //  September 13, 2019

suspect vehicle drove toward the officer when he fired one shot from his handgun, striking the front seat passenger

A Melbourne police officer wounded a fleeing suspect, and five burglary/theft spree suspects were arrested early Thursday morning around 2 a.m. after a vehicle pursuit through the city of Melbourne.

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – A Melbourne police officer wounded a fleeing suspect, and five burglary/theft spree suspects were arrested early Thursday morning around 2 a.m. after a vehicle pursuit through the city of Melbourne.

The incident began when Melbourne police officers were alerted by members of the Orange County Sheriff’s office early Thursday morning that they were following a vehicle occupied by multiple suspects who had just committed several commercial burglaries in Palm Bay and West Melbourne.

According to Melbourne Police Commander Marc Claycomb, the suspect vehicle was followed to the area of Eau Gallie Boulevard and Sarno Road where the suspects exited their car.

“Officers from the Melbourne Police Department approached the suspects as they were trying to open several cash boxes they had just stolen,” said Commander Claycomb.

“The suspects ran back to their vehicle and fled. Officers in marked police vehicles gave chase and pursued the suspect vehicle. An officer deployed stop sticks, which took effect and deflated the tires on the suspect vehicle.”

The suspect vehicle continued fleeing to the parking lot of 1279 Houston Street.

Officers followed the vehicle into the parking lot and one of the officers exited his vehicle and gave multiple warnings for the suspect vehicle to stop.

“The suspect vehicle drove toward the officer when he fired one shot from his handgun, striking the front seat passenger,” said Commander Claycomb.

All five adult suspects in the vehicle were taken into custody. The wounded suspect was transported to a local hospital where he is being treated for non-life threatening injuries.

“The officer has been on the department for approximately nine months,” said Commander Claycomb.

“He has been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is conducting the investigation into officer’s use of force.”

The Melbourne Police Department is actively investigating this case. If you have any information regarding any of these cases, you are encouraged to call CrimeLine at 1-800-423-TIPS or call the Melbourne Police Department at 321-608-MPD1 (6731).

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