MELBOURNE, Fla. (CBS12) — A Florida man was arrested after deputies say he shot at and damaged eight company vehicles on Thursday, just days after being fired from the business.
According to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, the crime happened just before 5 a.m. at American Air & Heat. Employees arriving for work found eight company vehicles damaged by what appeared to be projectiles fired from some firearm.
Surveillance video showed a man wearing a dark sweatshirt with a yellow or gold logo, along with knee pads, entering the property and firing at the vehicles, deputies said. Investigators also reviewed video from a nearby camera that showed a person wearing similar clothing arriving and leaving on a sports bike.
During the investigation, agents with the General Crimes Unit identified 36-year-old Chase Hemenway of Melbourne as a possible suspect after learning he had recently been terminated from his position at the company and had allegedly expressed anger about the decision.
Deputies said Hemenway had returned to the business and claimed he was underpaid and was “going to make it right.”
Investigators said Hemenway was also stopped by Melbourne Police shortly after the suspected crime while driving a motorcycle without a license plate.
Authorities later went to Hemenway’s home, where they said they found a sports bike in the garage that appeared similar to the one seen in the surveillance video.
Deputies said they also found a Valken M17 launcher and a box of projectiles that appeared similar to those recovered from the damaged vehicles.
Hemenway was arrested Friday and is being held without bond on charges of criminal mischief and armed burglary.
The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office credited its investigators and the Melbourne Police Department for helping quickly solve the case.