Police: Person of interest in Black Tulip vandalism case jumps from hotel balcony

COCOA, Fla. — A person of interest in a case of vandalism and burglary at a popular Cocoa restaurant jumped to his death from a hotel balcony, police said.

Police believe Dean Steven O’Hara, 50, caused more than $100,000 in damage at the Black Tulip restaurant on Brevard Avenue.

Authorities said vandals smashed the restroom sinks and toilets, along with wine racks and the cash register last month.

Several paintings were also destroyed.

Police did not have enough evidence to charge O’Hara in the crime, however.

Last week, Ormond Beach police received a call that a man was on the seventh floor of the hotel acting suspiciously.

When they arrived, O’Hara drew a knife on them and then jumped over the balcony and died, police said.

They found a van that was stolen from Black Tulip about a mile from the scene.

WFTV