COCOA, Fla. – A homeless Cocoa man with a long criminal history stands accused of battering an off-duty sheriff's deputy in the Home Depot parking lot on Merritt Island, according to Local 6 news partner Florida Today.
Derek Ryan Boeck, 36, was arrested late Saturday by the Brevard County Sheriff's Office G.A.M.E.O.V.E.R. Task Force, Deputy Maria Fernez said.
Recommended Videos
Boeck had been frequenting the area of Forrest Avenue and Hillcrest Drive, and he was wearing a large hat and jumpsuit as a disguise, Fernez said. He physically resisted agents' arrest attempts, she said.
Boeck was charged with resisting arrest with violence and providing a false name to a law enforcement officer. Moreover, Boeck had active felony arrest warrants for aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting officer with violence, grand theft and resisting merchant in recovery of merchandise.
He remains incarcerated at the Brevard County Jail Complex on $87,500 bond.
Investigators accuse Boeck of battering off-duty Deputy Don Eri on Wednesday. That's when Eri tried to prevent Boeck from stealing merchandise from Home Depot on North Courtenay Parkway, Fernez said. Eri suffered minor injuries.
Fernez said Boeck has criminal histories in California and South Carolina relating to burglaries, drugs, weapons and resisting arrest. Deputies believe the Home Depot case is related to Boeck's recent drug relapse.