Brevard County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team Arrest Suspect in Latest ‘Mess Around and Find Out’

By  //  February 15, 2023

Donald Austin, from Port St. John, was arrested on Tuesday

Donald Austin, from Port St. John, was arrested by BCSO for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Shoot/ Throw Missile in Dwelling and Aggravated Stalking as Intimidation. (BCSO Image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Mess Around and Find Out like Donald Austin of Port St. John who yesterday evening thought it was a good idea to once again shoot at his neighbors with a high-powered pellet gun and then barricade himself inside his residence, to avoid getting his butt hauled to jail.

This incident actually all started several days ago when Austin started shooting at one of his neighbors with a pellet gun and actually shot one of his neighbors in the leg.

Our Agents worked the initial case and arrested Austin on a $27,000 bond for Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Battery With Bodily Injury, Shooting/Throwing Missile Into Dwelling, and Felony Criminal Mischief.

I know this will came as a shocker, but Austin got right back out of jail on bond and then early yesterday evening decided to once again take aim at his neighbor with a high-powered pellet gun. This time Austin was shooting at the same neighbor as well as an additional neighbor and their cars.

That level of dumbness can be found on the “Mess Around and Find Out Scale” in the suggested “No Go Zone” and resulted in the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team surrounding his residence and deploying, let’s just say, a rather large amount of gas canisters through the windows of his house.

As you would expect, our SWAT Team subsequently extracted Austin from inside the residence and took him right back to the “Iron Bar Lodge” where he should have still been, from his previous actions.

Austin was incarcerated this time on a “No Bond” status for Aggravated Assault x 2, Shooting Throwing Deadly Missile Into Vehicle, and Aggravated Stalking.

On a bright note, he now qualifies for a free, “I Messed Around and Found Out” T-shirt.

Folks, how many times do I have to tell people that if you are going to Mess Around in Brevard County you are going to quickly Find Out that we don’t play that crap here.

We have zero tolerance for crime and even less for criminals, especially those who disrupt the peace and harmony of an entire neighborhood with their dangerous and criminal actions!! Austin is right back where he belongs, in the Brevard County Jail.

Great job by our BCSO Deputies who initially responded to the call and our SWAT Team, Explosive Ordinance Team, K-9 Unit, and Negotiators, for their response to this scenario.

Also, a huge “thank you” to the various citizens and neighbors in the area for their support and patience during the incident!