Victim, pit bull chase Port St. John robber

PORT ST. JOHN, Fla. — A man suspected in a home invasion isn't getting out of the Brevard County jail Monday.

He's accused of pulling a gun on a Port St. John couple Monday night inside their home on Curtis Boulevard.

Channel 9's Melonie Holt spoke to one of the victims who chased after the man.

The victim had a close call. The man didn't appreciate being followed, so he fired one shot toward the victim and his pit bull.

Deputies said Derrick Clayton couldn't outrun their canine.

Clayton made a first appearance at the Brevard County jail Monday wearing a protective vest and flip-flops.

He was arrested just a short distance from the Port St. John home he's accused of invading with a loaded handgun.

Video was captured by the Brevard County Sheriff's Office aviation unit Monday night.

"He's jumping another fence right now," said an aviation unit official from a helicopter.

"I guess we'll sleep a little bit better now that he's caught and stuff," said home-invasion victim Kyle Collins.

Collins said he'd never seen Clayton before the man showed up at his front door.

"And as soon as I opened the door, there was a .380 pointed to my face, a pistol. And he started demanding stuff -- money, drugs and all that stuff," Collins said.

Collins said there were no drugs, but he gave the gunman all the cash he had on hand.

"I gave him the money out my door, he demanded more money, more stiff I didn't have," Collins said.

The gunman pushed the door open and noticed Collins' girlfriend with two phones. He made her drop them.

When the man left, Collins and his pit bull followed.

"My dog got about five feet away from him. That's when he turned around and started shooting at me and my dog. That's when I turned around and called 911," Collins said.

Deputies had enough information to locate 43-year-old Clayton, who's now facing charges of gun possession, grand theft, home invasion robbery and attempted murder.

Clayton has previous convictions for the sale and possession of cocaine, as well as burglary. A conviction on the current charges would mean Clayton could spend the rest of his life in prison.

WFTV