Brevard County Days Inn Robbery Suspect Arrested In Jacksonville

UPDATE: 

30-year-old James Bruce Miller was arrested in Jacksonville on Monday after Cocoa detectives contacted deputies there to verify information that the suspect was in Jacksonville’s jurisdiction. Miller was found at the Knights Inn motel along with a car stolen from Joe’s Bestway Deli on Peachtree Street in Cocoa.

Cocoa P.D. Detectives Mark Rush and Chris Bradshaw led the investigation and located an individual who helped find the suspect in the Jacksonville area. 

“We were fortunate to be able to make the arrest before he continued with his crime spree and God forbid someone got hurt,” said Detective Rush. “What we are finding out now is he has a lengthy criminal history and a long list of agencies with pending charges against him.”

Records show Miller is wanted on warrants from the State of Kansas for a failure to appear in reference to charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He is also wanted for armed robberies in Titusville, Manatee County, unincorporated Brevard County and Cocoa. A no-bond warrant for the Cocoa charges is being served and Miller will be brought to the Brevard County jail pending extradition proceedings. 

Previous Story:

BREVARD COUNTY, Florida — A suspect wanted in connection with a series of armed robberies in Brevard County is now in custody in the Jacksonville, Florida area. The suspect is believed to be responsible for four armed robberies that began last week.

The first robbery was reported on Friday just before 10 a.m. at a Days Inn Hotel located at 3755 Cheney Highway in Titusville, Florida. Once inside, police say that the man produced a note and brandished a firearm to the check-in clerk in an attempt to rob the business. The clerk was not injured during the incident, and the man fled the store. 

The second robbery was reported just a few minutes later at a Days Inn on State Road 524 in Cocoa, Florida. The on duty clerk reported that a white male suspect was armed with a black semi-automatic handgun and threatened to kill her if she did not give him money. The clerk complied and the suspect fled in a vehicle which was later located at a Budget Inn on State Road 524 in Cocoa. However, the suspect was no longer with the vehicle when police arrived. 

On Saturday around noon, an armed robbery was reported at the Sunny Food Store located at 775 Clearlake Road in Cocoa. The clerk on duty also reported a white male suspect armed with a black semi-automatic handgun threatening to kill her if she did not comply. As the clerk attempted to unlock the register a patron walked into the store. The suspect put the gun away and fled without any cash. 

A short time later on Saturday, Cocoa Police dispatchers received another emergency call from the owners of Joe’s Bestway Deli on Peachtree Street, also in Cocoa. The victims reported the same suspect pointed a gun at them, demanded cash and the keys to their vehicle. The suspect fled the store in the victim’s vehicle which was a silver Honda Accord.

Law enforcement bulletins were immediately disseminated and surveillance images were released to local media and posted on social media. Detectives received leads that directed them to a Knights Inn Motel in Jacksonville, Florida where authorities there were contacted. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office deputies were able to verify that the suspect’s vehicle was there and were able to take the suspect into custody. The investigation is ongoing and charges are pending. Cocoa Police detectives are traveling to Jacksonville to gather evidence and attempt to identify the individual in custody.