Deputy of the Year Archives - The Space Coast Rocket

BCSO

Deputy of the Year Quits After Internal Probe Found Flock Abuse, Gun in Sex Acts, Nazi Salute Photo, Racial Slurs

Robert W. Burns III -

August 19, 2026

Facebook Posts

The Space Coast Rocket

4 days ago

**FIVE SHOT OUTSIDE DORMS AT VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY, POLICE HUNTING MULTIPLE SHOOTERS**Five people were shot early Saturday outside residence halls at Virginia State University in Ettrick, Virginia, sending the historically Black campus into a lockdown that lasted more than seven hours.Officers from VSU Police and the Chesterfield County Police Department responded to the 3300 block of Boisseau Street just before 1:30 a.m. and found five gunshot victims near the Quad Annexes student housing complex. All five were taken to area hospitals. One is in critical condition after initially being listed with life-threatening injuries. The other four are expected to survive.Investigators say this was not a drive-by. Chesterfield County police have confirmed only one of the victims was a student and believe the others may be from surrounding communities. Police are searching for more than one shooter, and the university has said the shooting involved "multiple suspects."No arrests have been announced.The timing has hit the campus hard. Residence halls opened a week ago and classes are set to resume Monday, and many students had just finished the university's "New Trojans Experience" orientation for incoming freshmen.The lockdown was lifted around 9 a.m., though the university warned that a heavy law enforcement presence would remain while the investigation continues. The Chesterfield County Police Department is leading the case with help from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hanover County Sheriff's Office.Virginia State University enrolls about 5,700 students and sits roughly 24 miles south of Richmond. It was the first fully state-supported four-year college for Black Americans.Anyone with information is asked to contact Chesterfield County Police.#CampusSafety #BreakingNews #GunViolence ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook

The Space Coast Rocket

4 days ago

BREAKING: Amazon Warehouse in Cocoa Evacuated After Workers Report Trouble Breathing, Hazmat Crews RespondBrevard County Fire Rescue responded to a hazardous materials call Friday morning at Amazon's MLB1 fulfillment center at 3655 Grissom Parkway in Cocoa.The call came in at 10:41 a.m. and was closed at 12:21 p.m., a response lasting roughly one hour and 40 minutes. Six units were responded.Photos and video from the scene obtained by The Rocket show employees evacuated from the building with fire and police units staged outside the facility.An employee who was on site tells The Rocket that multiple workers reported difficulty breathing and that something in the building was causing respiratory irritation, but that no one had identified the source.According to the employee, the fire department cleared the area as safe but still did not know what was causing the irritation. As of shortly before 1 p.m., the employee said workers remained outside and that site leadership was waiting on word from corporate or regional management on whether to shut the building down for the day."They are currently trying to make a plan to have us return, having no idea what is causing the distress," the employee said.The employee also described MLB1 as a hazmat facility where workers receive no hazard pay, and said management appeared more concerned with production than with employees.The Rocket has reached out to Brevard County Fire Rescue for official details, including whether anyone was treated or transported, and to Amazon for comment on the evacuation, the substance involved, and whether the building will remain open.If you work at MLB1 and saw what happened this morning, we want to hear from you. Message this page or email editor@thespacecoastrocket.com. We can keep you anonymous.#Brevard #Cocoa #SpaceCoast ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook

The Space Coast Rocket

4 days ago

WOMAN KILLED IN N. WICKHAM ROAD CRASH IN MELBOURNEThe Florida Highway Patrol has released new details in Thursday night's fatal crash at North Wickham Road and Capron Trail in Melbourne.According to FHP, a 42-year-old Melbourne woman was driving a 2019 Honda Insight and exiting a parking lot onto North Wickham Road around 8:11 p.m. on August 14. Troopers say she attempted to turn left to head eastbound and entered the direct path of a 2023 Toyota Tacoma traveling east in the inside lane.The front of the pickup struck the right side of the Honda, and the impact sent both vehicles off the roadway.The driver of the Honda was taken to Viera Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased. Her next of kin has been notified. FHP has not publicly released her name.The 20-year-old Rockledge man driving the pickup and his 20-year-old Melbourne passenger were also taken to Viera Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Troopers report all three occupants were wearing seatbelts.The crash remains under investigation. The Space Coast Rocket will update this story as more information is releas#brevarde#melbourneo#TrafficAlertAlert ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook

The Space Coast Rocket

4 days ago

WOMAN KILLED IN N. WICKHAM ROAD CRASH IN MELBOURNEThe Florida Highway Patrol has released new details in Thursday night's fatal crash at North Wickham Road and Capron Trail in Melbourne.According to FHP, a 42-year-old Melbourne woman was driving a 2019 Honda Insight and exiting a parking lot onto North Wickham Road around 8:11 p.m. on August 14. Troopers say she attempted to turn left to head eastbound and entered the direct path of a 2023 Toyota Tacoma traveling east in the inside lane.The front of the pickup struck the right side of the Honda, and the impact sent both vehicles off the roadway.The driver of the Honda was taken to Viera Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased. Her next of kin has been notified. FHP has not publicly released her name.The 20-year-old Rockledge man driving the pickup and his 20-year-old Melbourne passenger were also taken to Viera Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Troopers report all three occupants were wearing seatbelts.The crash remains under investigation. The Space Coast Rocket will update this story as more information is released.Photo credit: Julian L#brevarde#melbourneo#TrafficAlertAlert ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook

The Space Coast Rocket

4 days ago

**SWAT Standoff on Garvey Road Ends With Drug, Gun Seizure**Palm Bay police say a pre-planned search warrant turned into a multi-hour standoff Friday in the 400 block of Garvey Road SW.According to the department, 32-year-old Johnathan Walker refused to come out when the SWAT team arrived. He eventually surrendered without incident and was taken into custody. Police say the scrapes and insulation seen in his booking photo came from hiding in the attic while officers waited him out.Investigators with the department's Special Investigations Unit reported seizing 2.3 pounds of cocaine, 4 ounces of fentanyl, 2 ounces of methamphetamine and three stolen firearms from the home.A portion of Garvey Road was closed during the operation. The Brevard County Sheriff's Office assisted with one of its robots.As with any arrest, the allegations are accusations until proven i#palmbay#brevardcountyv#spacecoastcrimeCoastCrime ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook

Tag: Deputy of the Year

Deputy of the Year Quits After Internal Probe Found Flock Abuse, Gun in Sex Acts, Nazi Salute Photo, Racial Slurs