By Debbie Carson, Online Editor
FELLSMERE — Authorities from the U.S. Marshals Service, Fellsmere Police Department and the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office descended on a home in the Sunrise Villas community of Fellsmere Thursday morning to catch a man accused of committing aggravated battery.
The officers caught Dexter Clark without incident within a home on Sunrise Place, according to Fellsmere Police Chief Scott Melanson, who said that Clark was lying on a couch at the time of his arrest.
“Today was just our day,” the chief said of catching a suspected violent offender. “I’m glad to have him off the street.”
Clark, 20, has been booked into the Indian River County jail without bond on charges that include felony aggravated battery, felony use or display of a weapon during the commission of a felony, felony possession of a firearm by a delinquent, and misdemeanor probation violation of a misdemeanor offense – criminal mischief, according to his arrest report.
Chief Melanson said that he thinks Clark might be the main suspect in a Gifford homicide case, but he was not sure.
Sheriff spokesman Jeff Luther referred questions about Clark’s arrest and possible connection to a homicide case to the U.S. Marshals Service, which did not immediately return calls.
Chief Melanson said that the arrest occurred between 7:45 and 8:15 a.m. Thursday after U.S. Marshals investigators determined Clark was inside one of the Sunrise Villas homes.
The police chief added that the Fellsmere Police Department had been keeping an eye on the neighborhood after learning that Clark’s family had moved in there.
