PORT ST. JOHN, Fla. (CBS12) — An I-95 hit-and-run spiraled into a violent home invasion when deputies say a Florida man crashed into a front yard, stormed inside, and stabbed two residents.
Deputies with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office were initially responding to reports of a hit-and-run on I-95 when they received another call about a vehicle that had crashed into the front yard of a nearby home in Port St. John.
When deputies and the Florida Highway Patrol arrived, they found several people outside the residence, including one victim holding a cloth to their neck after they had been stabbed by the suspect, later identified as 31-year-old Jadarius West.
According to the sheriff’s office, the victims were inside the home when they heard a loud crash. Investigators say West ran onto the back porch before entering through a sliding glass door.
Deputies say West demanded the victims’ car keys before grabbing a knife from the kitchen.
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Investigators say West cut one victim on the hand, causing them to fall to the floor. A second victim was then slashed across the neck while trying to intervene. A third person inside the home was not injured but fell during the chaotic encounter while trying to escape.
All three victims were eventually able to get out of the home while West remained inside, per deputies
Law enforcement officers surrounded the residence and secured the perimeter. According to investigators, West then jumped out of a window, where deputies immediately took him into custody.
The injured victims were treated for their wounds.
West was booked into the Brevard County Jail with no bond for counts including armed burglary of an occupied dwelling, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery on a person over 65, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault on a person over 65, criminal mischief, leaving the scene of a crash, and driving while license suspended with knowledge.