Police: no officers used deadly force during the incident
A 54-year-old man, identified as Robert Reyes Jr., who was wanted in connection with a Daytona Beach homicide investigation was found dead Monday after fleeing from Titusville police and crashing into a pond at Sand Point Park, authorities said.
BREVARD COUNTY • TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA — A 54-year-old man wanted in connection with a Daytona Beach homicide investigation was found dead Monday after fleeing from Titusville police and crashing into a pond at Sand Point Park, authorities said.
The Titusville Police Department was notified by Volusia County law enforcement on July 27 that Robert Reyes Jr. was believed to be driving a gray four-door Toyota sedan within the city.
Using the department’s network of automatic license plate readers, police tracked the vehicle from northern Titusville to the southern end of the city and then back north.
Officers located the sedan near South Washington Avenue and Garden Street and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Police said Reyes fled east along A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway before leaving the roadway and entering a pond inside Sand Point Park.
Due to the seriousness of the homicide investigation, Titusville police were joined by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol while attempting to contact Reyes.
Authorities received no response from inside the vehicle.
The Titusville Police Department SWAT team subsequently approached the vehicle and found Reyes dead inside.
No law enforcement officers were injured, and authorities said no officers used deadly force during the incident.
Titusville detectives assumed responsibility for the death investigation and are working with the Brevard County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Preliminary evidence indicates that Reyes died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police.
Investigators also recovered a handgun from the vehicle. The Medical Examiner’s Office will make the final determination regarding the cause of death.
“No single agency can do it alone. Today’s public safety environment demands collaboration, open communication, and the responsible use of technology,” Interim Titusville Police Chief Wright said.
“The partnership between our law enforcement agencies, coupled with automatic license plate reader technology, enabled law enforcement to quickly locate the homicide suspect. It is a reminder that when we work together and leverage technology responsibly, we are better equipped to protect the communities we serve.”
