Rockledge Police Arrest Suspect Wanted For Arson, Stealing Fire Vehicle

bond set at $17,500

BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA – Rockledge Police have arrested a suspect in connection to the arson and stolen fire vehicle that took place in Cocoa and Rockledge on Saturday.

The suspect is 44-year-old Michael Jason Simpson from Merritt Island.

“On Tuesday, Rockledge Police contacted Cocoa detectives after Rockledge officers arrested Simpson, who matched the description in a police radio BOLO issued reference the downtown Cocoa fires and the theft of the fire vehicle,” said Officer Martinez of the Cocoa Police Department.

The same suspect is believed to have been connected to a series of arsons in the downtown area of Cocoa where he also is believed to have stolen a fire vehicle, according to police.

Detectives are continuing to investigate and additional charges against Simpson are pending.

Police have been investigating a series of fire calls and subsequent theft of a fire vehicle Saturday night.

The fire vehicle, an F-250, was recovered later by authorities.

No injuries occurred during the fires and only minor property damage to a building as a result of the fires.

According to the investigation, police received a call around 6:34 PM on Saturday near 640 Brevard Avenue for a reported fire in a dumpster.

When emergency crews managed the scene another call was received at 6:47 PM for a fire in a trash bin at a pavilion at Lee Wenner Park.

Additional emergency personnel responded to the second fire when a third call was received at 7:13 PM for a fire alarm activation at 225 King St.

A short time after, at 7:19 PM, as patrol units were canvassing the area for suspicious persons, they learned the vehicle assigned to the district chief was stolen from the scene at 225 King St. The suspect abandoned the fire vehicle a short distance away at 430 Brevard Ave., and fled the area on foot.

Simpson has a bond set at $17,500.

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