COCOA BEACH, Florida -- At approximately midnight this morning, Cocoa Beach police officers were conducting a property
check around Motel 6 located at 3701 North Atlantic Avenue. During that time, officers were
alerted to the possible odor of marijuana coming from one of the rooms.
Cocoa Beach police spokesperson Major Jay Harmon stated in a release that officers then made contact with
the occupant, Jacob Rice, 29, of Winter Park, Florida, and discovered that Rice was in possession of
all materials and chemicals used to manufacture Methamphetamine and was allegedly about to start the
process when officers discovered him.
A portion of the motel was temporarily evacuated as a
precaution while agents with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and the Brevard County Fire
Rescue Hazardous Materials Team assisted in the investigation. Rice was arrested and charged
with Unlawful Possession of Listed Chemicals and transported to the Brevard County Detention
Center in Sharpes, Florida on a $30,000 bond.