BCSO’s ‘To Catch a Criminal’ Social Media Initiative Identifies Suspect Who Stole $100,000 in Jewelry and Cash

By  //  April 20, 2022

SHERIFF IVEY: I love it when a plan comes together and another criminal is getting to visit the inside of the Brevard County Jail.

Jesus Dejesus Santiago was arrested on a warrant with a total bond of $155,000 for two counts of Burglary, Grand Theft, Dealing in Stolen Property, and False Verification Ownership Secondhand Dealer. (BCSO image)

Jesus Dejesus Santiago was arrested on a warrant with a total bond of $155,000 for two counts of Burglary, Grand Theft, Dealing in Stolen Property and False Verification Ownership Secondhand Dealer.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – On March 18 our agency posted on Facebook “To Catch A Criminal,” a new initiative by our team to help identify suspects in various crimes that occur throughout our community.

The ‘To Catch A Criminal’ flyer showed several great surveillance photos of a thug who broke into a Brevard County residence on March 14 and stole the home’s safe containing approximately $100,000 in jewelry and cash.

As a result of the FaceBook post and some great detective work by Detective Sergeant Nick Ferrara of the Gainesville Police Department, that “thug” is now positively identified as James Dejesus Santiago who was recently arrested by our agency on multiple burglary charges as well as Grand Theft, Dealing in Stolen Property, and False Verification of Ownership To a Secondhand Dealer.

As a result of the FaceBook post and some great detective work by Detective Sergeant Nick Ferrara of the Gainesville Police Department, that “thug” is now positively identified as James Dejesus Santiago who was recently arrested by our agency on multiple burglary charges as well as Grand Theft, Dealing in Stolen Property, and False Verification of Ownership To a Secondhand Dealer. (BCSO image)

The arrest occurred after Detective Ferrara, who follows our agency’s Facebook Page, observed the post and used Gainesville PD’s facial recognition software on one of the photographs on the flyer.

As a result, Detective Ferrara got a lead on the case and contacted our Agents who took it from there. Further investigation by BCSO Agent John Whigham positively identified James Dejesus Santiago as the perpetrator of two separate burglaries in Brevard County.

Santiago was subsequently arrested on a warrant with a total bond of $155,000.00 for two counts of Burglary, Grand Theft, Dealing in Stolen Property, and False Verification Ownership Secondhand Dealer.

Please join me in thanking Detective Sergeant Nick Ferrara of the Gainesville Police Department and Agent John Whigham for their great teamwork on this case as they worked together to take another criminal off our streets.

Man, I love it when a plan comes together and another criminal is getting to visit the inside of the Brevard County Jail!

– Sheriff Wayne Ivey

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