Brevard County Mom Prevents Man From Stealing Car With Toddler

Stephane Derosier Johnson

MALABAR, Florida - A Brevard County mother struggled with a man, who attempted to steal her car with her toddler inside, long enough for police to arrive and apprehend the suspect on Friday.

A twenty seven-year-old mother told deputies that, as she was putting her two-year old child in her car, she was approached by two men on Gilmore Street in Malabar, Florida. 

The first man, later identified as 20-year-old Stephane Derosier Johnson of Orlando, Florida, offered her one hundred dollars ($100) for a ride. When she declined the offer, the second man ran as Johnson allegedly jumped into the driver’s seat of her car. The vehicle was already running to cool down the interior for the child. Deputies say that Johnson then put the vehicle into reverse in attempt to leave the area with the child still inside. The mother quickly jumped into the vehicle and started screaming as she scrambled to grab the key. She was successful in breaking the key off in the ignition, and then struggled with Johnson as she tried to put the gear back into park.

While the mom was attempting to stop Johnson from taking her vehicle and child, Sheriff’s deputies and Palm Bay police arrived on scene and took Johnson into custody from the driver’s seat of the vehicle. The police response was almost immediate because they were already in the area searching for the suspects who had just fled from an unrelated vehicle that was reported stolen from Orange County.

Johnson was taken into custody and charged with carjacking and transported to the Brevard County Jail under a $100,000.00 bond. Johnson is a convicted felon with a history of multiple violent offenses and was released in May of 2015 from the Florida Department of Corrections.

The second man was quickly located in the area and identified as 23-year-old Kelvin Houston, also of Orlando. Houston was charged with loitering and prowling and was transported to the Brevard County jail under a $1,000.00 bond.

"We are all very relieved that this young mother and child are safe and that our Deputies were able to quickly respond and remove another violent offender off our streets," Sheriff Ivey stated.  "There is absolutely no place in society for those who would prey upon a mother and child! While I don't recommend ever breaking the law I would highly suggest that if you intend to break the law you don't do it in Brevard County!"

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to please call Brevard County Sheriff’s Office South Precinct General Crimes Agent Jason West at 321-253-6683, or CRIMELINE at 1- 800-423-TIPS (8477), you can also visit http://crimeline.org/, or text ‘crimeline’ plus your tip to CRIME (274637). All information to CRIMELINE is confidential and you may be eligible for a reward.