MELBOURNE, Fla. – Melbourne police detectives are investigating a suspicious death after a body was found in a house and men in a truck were seen dumping items in dumpsters, the department said Saturday.
The department received a tip at about 9 a.m. Friday about a possible unreported suspicious death on the 2000 block of Leewood Boulevard, according to a Melbourne police news release.
Detectives then followed two males driving a box truck who were discarding items in different dumpsters and eventually detained those men, according to the news release.
Police caught the men at a Sunoco gas station on S.R. 518 and South Patrick Drive. The gas station manager gave News 6 surveillance video showing the moment police officers took the suspects into custody.
Police identified the suspects as 28-year-old Nicholas McDuffie and 32-year-old Victor Cruz.
Police said McDuffie lives in the home where they found the victim's body.
Investigators identified the victim as 24-year-old Tyler Moore.
Detectives are calling this a homicide investigation. They have not released any details about how the victim died.
McDuffie and Cruz are facing several charges, including tampering with evidence and failure to report a death. They have not been charged with homicide. Police said additional charges are pending.
Investigators are calling this an isolated incident and said the pubic isn't in any danger.
Still neighbors said this is leaving them uneasy.
"I was suspicious as to what was going on because of all of the activity," one neighbor who didn't want to be identified said.
Leewood Boulevard is within two miles of three local schools: Sabal Elementary School, Croton Elementary School and Eau Gallie High School.
Both men are in the Brevard County Jail.
Cruz’s bond has been set at $175,000 while McDuffie’s bond has been set at $205,500.
News 6 partner Florida Today contributed to this story.