Cocoa warrant roundup yields 13 arrests as chief cracks down on crime

COCOA, Fla. — A warrant roundup in Brevard County resulted in the arrests of more than a dozen suspects, with more arrests are on the way.

Some of the suspects are juveniles charged with felony crimes.

The majority of the crimes involved drugs and vehicle thefts.

Operation Echo Offender was run by Cocoa police and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office’s Game Over task force.

The police chief said his department is taking an aggressive approach to crime.

“We want to make sure that we’re sending an aggressive stance in Cocoa on crime, and send a message that if you commit a crime, we’re going to aggressively come after you and prosecute you,” said Chief Mike Cantaloupe.

The chief hopes the efforts will reduce criminal activity.

He said the operation is still underway.

In recent months, his department dealt with near-fatal heroin overdoses and the killing of Walter Thomas Jr., 31.

Thomas was shot and killed after dropping off his 4-year-old child at a bus stop.

Cantaloupe said his department is still investigating Thomas’ killing.

“There haven’t been any arrests. There are suspects and we’re working hard to put together a good case,” he said.

Cox Media Group