Pursuit suspect attempts to swim away from authorities
A man wanted on a felony warrant spent about 90 minutes in the Pacific Ocean off Will Rogers State Beach before Los Angeles County lifeguards surrounded him and helped take him into custody. (Credit: FOX 11 Los Angeles)
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A group of would-be cruisers hoping to sail the high seas instead landed at what a Florida sheriff dubbed his “Iron Bar Lodge” after deputies encountered six passengers with outstanding warrants or alleged probation violations at Port Canaveral.
“Oh Ship!!” Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey wrote in a social media post recounting the busy day for deputies at one of the world’s busiest cruise ports.
The most serious case involved Martell Murray, 24, of Georgia, who was taken into custody on an out-of-state fugitive warrant alleging he violated conditions of his release in connection with pending murder charges, according to the sheriff’s office and Brevard County jail records.
Carnival Liberty and Disney Dream cruise ships docked in Port Canaveral, Florida, on Sept. 5, 2019. (Getty Images)
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Authorities said the warrant stemmed from an alleged violation tied to an existing murder case. The sheriff’s office did not identify the victim, disclose the jurisdiction handling the case or explain which release condition Murray had allegedly violated.
Martell Murray, 24, of Georgia, who was taken into custody on an out-of-state fugitive warrant alleging he violated conditions of his release in connection with pending murder charges, according to the sheriff’s office. (Brevard County Sheriff’s Office)
Murray’s getaway was sunk alongside his traveling companion, Kenderia Burney, 24, who was wanted on a violation-of-probation warrant, Ivey said.
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“Luckily these two still got to vacation together at the Lodge even though they got accommodations with separate sleeping quarters,” Ivey quipped.
Kenderia Burney, 24, was wanted on a violation-of-probation warrant, the sheriff’s office said. (Brevard County Sheriff’s Office)
Both Murray and Burney were booked into the Brevard County Jail on July 17 and remained in custody without bond as of Wednesday, jail records showed. Murray was booked as an out-of-state fugitive, while Burney was being held on an out-of-county warrant.
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The deputies’ catch of the day did not end there.
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Veronica Hamlet, 38, of Tampa, was arrested on a failure-to-appear warrant, according to the sheriff. Brevard County jail records listed her charge as an out-of-county warrant and showed that she was released the following day after posting $1,000 bond.
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Veronica Hamlet, 38, of Tampa, was arrested on a failure-to-appear warrant, according to the sheriff. (Broward County Sheriff’s Office)
James Otha Brewton, 66, of Allendale, South Carolina, was also taken into custody on a violation-of-probation warrant, Ivey said. Jail records showed Brewton was booked on an out-of-county warrant and released July 18 after posting $500 bond.
“It’s smooth sailing from there,” the sheriff said.
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The Norwegian Breakaway, Carnival breeze and Norwegian Sun cruise ships are pictured in Port Canaveral, Florida. (Getty Images)
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Two additional passengers also found trouble waiting for them after they returned from their cruise.
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Deputies stopped the unnamed travelers as they disembarked and determined that both were on felony probation but allegedly had left the country without receiving permission from their probation officers, Ivey said.
The sheriff said the two would be enjoying stays at their respective “lodges” once probation officials completed the required paperwork.
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Authorities did not identify those passengers or disclose the crimes for which they were on probation.
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The sheriff’s office did not identify the ships or cruise lines connected to the six passengers.
“Whether you’re from Florida or Alaska, if you come to Brevard County and break the law…or in this case have a warrant…you better believe that we will lock you up!!” he said.
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