Person of interest in Black Tulip vandalism jumps to his death from balcony

Cocoa police locate stolen van from vandalized restaurant

COCOA, Fla. – Cocoa police said they identified a person of interest in the July vandalism of the Black Tulip restaurant that caused more than $100,000 in damage.

Police said during the investigation of the burglary and damage to the Black Tulip they developed leads and information that pointed to 51-year-old Dean Steven O'Hara as a person of interest. However, evidence at the restaurant was needed to positively identify O'Hara and to determine if other individuals were involved.

Police said sometime last week Ormond Beach police received a call that an person was on the seventh floor of a hotel on the beach acting suspiciously. 

When police arrived, they confronted the man, who allegedly pulled out a knife, officials said.

Police said as they approached the man he jumped over the balcony and died.

Police said they positively identified the man as O'Hara and they also found the stolen van from the Black Tulip about a mile away from the hotel.

O'Hara continues to be a person of interest until lab results from evidence is completed, police said.


Recommended Videos