Cocoa Police Arrest Jacqueice Witcher for Deadly Hit-and-Run Crash in January
By Space Coast Daily // October 29, 2019
Bruce Calkins died at the scene of the crash
BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA – Cocoa police has taken Jacqueice Witcher, 33, into custody for the hit and run crash that killed a 56-year-old man in January.
According to Cocoa Police Public Information Officer Yvonne Martinez, Witcher is facing a charge of leaving the scene of a crash with a death, a 1st-degree felony punishable by a maximum of life in prison.
The victim, 56-year-old Bruce Calkins, died at the scene as a result of the crash.
The arrest stems from an incident that happened on January 23, 2019, at around 12:15 a.m.
Martinez said that a Cocoa police officer found the bumper of a black vehicle in the roadway of eastbound State Road 520 near Varr Avenue and a witness discovered Calkins’ body in the median a short distance away.
Around 30 minutes later, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office stopped a 2014 black Honda Accord with front end damage that included a missing front bumper in the area of U.S. Highway 1 and State Road 405.
“After further investigation, it was revealed the black bumper found in the roadway matched the VIN of the vehicle stopped by BCSO,” said Martinez.
The driver was identified as Witcher, who was arrested for DUI and the investigation into the fatality continued.
Glass fragments, blood and DNA samples were collected from the driver and the victim.
“A forensic lab provided the results which were conclusive in confirming the suspect was driving the vehicle at the time of the crash,” said Traffic Homicide Investigator Donald Tabor.
“There was blood and tissue evidence on the driver’s shirt that matched the victim’s DNA profile. This evidence along with video evidence are enough to confirm the suspect was driving and immediately fled the area after hitting the victim.”
The Brevard County fugitive task force arrested Witcher Tuesday morning after a judge signed a warrant late Monday.
Witcher is being held on a $100,000 bond and will face a judge in court on Wednesday.
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