Man Barricaded In Melbourne Home Arrested

MELBOURNE, Florida --  A wanted man with a violent criminal past, who broke into a home and barricaded himself inside, has been taken into custody by Melbourne Police. 

At 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, the Brevard County GAME OVER task force approached a vehicle on Avenue D in Melbourne that was occupied by 24-year-old Wade Dante Jackson.  Jackson was wanted for violation of probation stemming from warrants for fleeing and eluding law enforcement and driving while license revoked. 

As the agents came up to the vehicle to apprehend Jackson, police say Jackson got behind the wheel and recklessly drove away from the scene.  Agents followed Jackson to the area of Brevard Drive and Crescent Drive where he abandoned the vehicle and ran on foot into a residential front yard. Jackson then allegedly forced his way into this home which was occupied by two adults and their young child. 

The family was able to flee the home without any injuries. Jackson stayed inside the home in an attempt to elude capture. The Melbourne Police SWAT team and Crisis Negotiation Unit, as well as additional resources from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the scene and tried to make verbal contact with Jackson while he was still inside the Crescent Drive home. 

Police say Jackson was offered several opportunities to come out of the home and surrender to police officers; however, he remained hidden inside. After making entry into the home to search for Jackson, SWAT officers located him hiding behind a bed in a back bedroom.  Jackson was taken into custody without further incident at 8:49 p.m .