Teen Tried to Blow Up Cop's Home, Deputies Say

Two Brevard County Sheriff’s Office bloodhounds and their human handlers are getting the credit for bringing a suspected arsonist into custody.

According to the sheriff’s office, the crime in question occurred early Saturday morning when an officer from the Rockledge Police Department found his police cruiser and home had been set ablaze. Correction Deputy Jared Conaway was called in with his K9 partner Koda to assist the Rockledge department with the case, Sheriff Wayne Ivey wrote on Facebook.

“Upon arrival Deputy Conaway discovered that the call was much more serious, as the arson victim was an RPD Police Officer’s home and patrol vehicle that had been set ablaze,” Ivey wrote. “RPD had also determined that the suspect had intentionally set a propane tank under the RPD officer’s home in an effort to create further devastation during the fire. The Police Officer’s patrol vehicle was a total loss and his home and personal property suffered significant damage.”

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Conaway and Koda tracked the suspect for about 25 minutes before landing on a nearby home. Cpl. Chris Spencer and his K9 Cletus were called in to complete a confirmation track.

When both dogs confirmed the track, deputies made contact with the people inside the home.

“Once the residents came out of the home, K9 Cletus ignored all bystanders and alerted to a single juvenile male,” Ivey wrote.

Since both dogs tracked the suspect to the location, the State Attorney’s Office authorized the Rockledge department to arrest the 17-year-old, who is not being identified, on three counts of arson, attempted murder and burglary.

“I could not be more proud of the actions of our Corrections K-9 Unit who worked closely with detectives from the Rockledge Police Department to take an extremely dangerous individual off our streets,” Ivey wrote. “This case is a perfect example of what happens when agencies work closely together to prevent and solve crimes.”

No injuries were reported in the blaze.

Photos courtesy of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office