A trail of chaos left behind by 31-year-old suspect Jadarius West began on the busy lanes of Interstate 95 on Friday afternoon. Deputies say West was first involved in a hit-and-run crash on the highway before careening off the road and hurtling straight toward the quiet residential streets of Port St. John.
The wild ride came to a crunching halt when West smashed his vehicle directly into the front lawn of a local residence. But instead of staying at the crash scene or waiting for help, West allegedly took off on foot, running toward the back porch of the nearby house.
Pushing open a sliding glass door, West forced his way inside the occupied home. Cornered and desperate to keep moving, he immediately began barking demands at the startled residents, ordering them to hand over their car keys.
When the residents couldn’t immediately satisfy his demands, West grabbed a knife straight from the home’s kitchen. Armed and aggressive, he escalated a traffic crime into a violent felony encounter within seconds.
During the ensuing confrontation, West allegedly slashed one occupant on the hand, knocking them to the floor. When another occupant jumped in to protect their family member, West sliced them across the neck, while a third occupant fell while scrambling to flee.
West’s attempt to secure a getaway ride completely backfired as all three residents managed to flee the home, leaving him stranded inside. Outside, Brevard County Sheriff’s deputies and Florida Highway Patrol troopers rapidly swarmed the residence, sealing off every possible exit.
Realizing he was completely surrounded, West made one final desperate bid for freedom by leaping out through a house window. But law enforcement officers were waiting, taking him down immediately and snapping on handcuffs without further trouble.
West was transported directly to the Brevard County Jail, where he is now being locked up with no bond. He faces an extensive rap sheet of severe felony charges, including armed burglary, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery on an elderly person over 65, aggravated assault, criminal mischief, leaving the scene of a crash, and driving with a suspended license.
Investigators with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol are continuing to piece together the full timeline of West’s crime spree. What started as a hit-and-run on I-95 has now guaranteed that West will be answering to serious charges in a court of law for a very long time.
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