Suspect in custody after officer-involved shooting in Palm Bay
PALM BAY, Fla. - On Sunday afternoon, police said the suspect in an officer-involved shooting in Palm Bay was taken into custody.
The suspect has been identified as Joseph Martinez, 26, of Lake Worth.
They said that the incident happened in the area of Malabar Road and St. Johns Heritage Parkway.
Officers were dispatched in regards to a reckless driver in the area of a gated subdivision called Parkside West.
They reportedly found a suspicious vehicle and attempted to make a traffic stop. Within two minutes of the stop, shots were exchanged by all accounts.
The Palm Bay Police Department explained that the suspect attempted to flee in a car, stopped and then fled on foot. Officers completed a foot chase, got to him and tased him. However, this proved ineffective, as the suspect produced a firearm and shot at officers.
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"I believe that the subject in the car, the driver of that car, the sole occupant of that car, indeed, fired at our officers first," police said during a news conference on Sunday.
The four officers at the scene were said to be uninjured and returned gunfire as the suspect continued to flee into a wooded area. A law enforcement helicopter spotted Martinez in the area.
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The four officers involved in the incident are OK and said to be "grateful to be alive."
Martinez was not injured in the incident.
As of now, he is being charged with violation of probation for a previous armed carjacking case.
Charges for Sunday's incident are said to be forthcoming.
Per standard protocol, officers involved are being placed on administrative leave with pay until the conclusion of the investigation.
Investigators are not looking for anyone else involved in the incident.
Following the capture and arrest of Martinez, Palm Bay Police Chief Nelson Moya made the following statement:
"I am grateful for the men and women that came to our assistance today from the various law enforcement organizations. The successful capture of this suspect is due to their resilience and their true professionalism. I thank the affected residents in the vicinity of this incident for their patience and for showing us their unyielding support. Our police officers and deputies selflessly serve our communities well and any attack on them is an attack on our community. We look forward to the successful prosecution of this violent suspect."