Two recent arrests of violent suspects show signs of being under the influence of drugs
Indian River Sheriff
Since Saturday, February 6, 2016, Indian River County Sheriff’s Office deputies have twice encountered subjects who have displayed violent behavior consistent with someone being under the influence of flakka or another narcotic.
On Saturday, deputies responded to the parking lot at 929 14th Lane in reference to a subject causing a disturbance. (37) of Vero Beach was seen punching vehicles and business windows while screaming and yelling as he walked through the lot. When confronted by deputies, Cruce took an unusually aggressive stance, implied his violent intention by stating, “you want a piece of me,” cursed and used racial slurs, all while advancing toward the first deputy on scene. He tried to strike the deputy but the punch was blocked. While attempting to restrain Cruse, he and the deputy fell to the ground where Cruse continued to fight with law enforcement officers. He was eventually arrested and charged with one count each of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest with violence, and battery on a law enforcement officer. He remains in the Indian River County Jail on $15,150 bond.
On Thursday night, deputies arrived on the scene of a reported reckless driver who had been involved in a hit and run crash near the 1700 block of A1A. Officers from the Indian River Shores Public Safety Department relayed to deputies a description of the vehicle which had failed to pull over during an attempted traffic stop and fled in excess of 100 MPH. Indian River County Sheriff’s deputies observed the suspect’s car, a white Nissan Maxima, traveling south on A1A at over 130 MPH and forcing several vehicles off the roadway. Deputies saw the suspect’s car, still speeding well above the posted limit, approach a marked patrol car and nearly strike it in a head-on collision before the deputy was able to pull off of the road.
Deputies initially lost sight of the vehicle but approximately 20 minutes after the car was last seen, a resident in the 2100 block of Island Drive reported seeing a suspicious person asking for gas for his car. As deputies were on scene speaking to the resident, the suspect, later identified as Jason Rosson (32) of Rossville, Georgia, was seen in a nearby wooded area running with a flashlight. Deputies caught up to Rosson who immediately became aggressive, took off some of his clothing in spite of the low temperature (indicative of flakka use), and fled on foot for a short distance before he was apprehended. However, he continued his resistance and when back up officers arrived, Rosson began to violently fight with them as well before he was finally arrested and placed in handcuffs. He was found to be in possession of a small quantity of amphetamines. His car was found in a nearby garage which had a side pedestrian door unlocked. It is believed Rosson entered here, opened the garage door, and parked his car inside. The residents, who were home at the time, were unaware Rosson had been in their garage. He was charged with burglary of an occupied dwelling, resisting arrest with violence, possession of amphetamines, battery on a law enforcement officer, 2 counts of felony fleeing an eluding, and leaving the scene of an accident. He is in the Indian River County Jail on $65,500 bond.
Sheriff Deryl Loar stated, “These two cases are recent examples of the danger narcotic abuse can have on the public and law enforcement. They also show how important it is we continue our efforts to keep these dangerous drugs off the streets. Having deputies attacked while they are valiantly trying to stop an obvious threat to the public is something we will not tolerate. These two individuals will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Those under the influence of flakka or other illegal drugs who have violent encounters with our deputies will find themselves in a cell at the Indian River County Jail where they no longer pose a threat to the public.”
Booking photos are available on their website, www.ircsheriff.org
