FIVE TEENS CHARGED IN FIERY ATTACK
- BSO Case Number: BS09-10-1902 (UPDATE)
- PIO Number: 09-10-14
- Date: October 12, 2009
- Time: 3:14 p.m. Jurisdiction: Deerfield Beach
- Place of Occurrence: Lime Tree Apartments, 429 SE 13 Court, Deerfield Beach
Victim(s):
- Michael Brewer, 15, male, Deerfield Beach
Suspect(s):
- 1. Matthew Bent, 15, male, Pompano Beach
- 2. Denver Jarvis, 15, male, Pompano Beach
- 3. Jeremy Jarvis, 13, male, Pompano Beach
- 4. Steven Shelton, 15, male, Deerfield Beach
- 5. Jesus Mendez, 15, male, Pompano Beach
Description of Incident:
Broward Sheriff’s Office detectives have arrested five juveniles for deliberately setting a 15-year-old boy on fire at a Deerfield Beach apartment complex.
The arrests stem from an intensive investigation launched immediately following the Monday afternoon attack. Three suspects were taken into custody Monday evening: brothers Denver and Jeremy Jarvis, ages 15 and 13, and Matthew Bent, 15. Two others, Steven Shelton and Jesus Mendez, both 15, were picked up today (Tuesday).
At 3:14 pm Monday BSO deputies were dispatched to the Lime Tree apartments in reference to a person who suffered a burn injury. Deputies arrived along with Deerfield Beach firefighters and found the victim, Michael Brewer, sitting in a lawn chair near the pool. The teen was burned extensively above the waist. The young victim said that he was splashed with a flammable liquid and then set ablaze. A BSO helicopter transported the victim to Broward General Medical Center. He was later transferred to a burn center in Miami. An intensive investigation by BSO Deerfield Beach District deputies and BSO Aggravated Felonies detectives, plus Crime Scene Investigators, was immediately launched.
Revenge was the motive for the torturous attack – retaliation for Brewer reporting the attempted theft of a bicycle Sunday night. Detectives determined that Brewer skipped class at Deerfield Middle School Monday and went to the apartment complex to visit a friend. At the complex, the five suspects approached Brewer, equipped with rubbing alcohol and a lighter. When he tried to walk away Denver Jarvis splashed him with alcohol and Mendez used a lighter to set him ablaze.
The suspects are all charged with Aggravated Battery and were taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center. Mendez, who actually flicked the lighter, is charged with Attempted Second Degree murder.
- THIS REPORT BY: Sgt. S. Feeley, Agg. Felonies Jim Leljedal / PIO Lt. P. Sudler, Dep. Bidoli, Deerfield Beach 10/13/09 1500
Denver Jarvis photo - Denver Jarvis photo- Jeremy Jarvis - Jeremy Jarvis
- Jesus Mendez - Jesus Mendez
- Matthew Bent - Matthew Bent
- Steven Shelton - Steven Shelton
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