Police charge man with shooting Fla wildlife officer www.privateofficer.com

COCOA, Fla. July 18 2009 — Police in Brevard County said they’ve made an arrest in the shooting of a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer.
Police said 23-year-old Christopher Eddy was arrested after he was found hiding in a sand dune on Melbourne Beach.
FWC Officer Van Streety, a 10-year FWC veteran, was patrolling near the intersection of Satellite Boulevard and State Road 520 in Brevard County when he was shot multiple times during a routine stop.
“If I wanted to kill him, I could have,” Eddy said after he was arrested. “I shot him in his vest on purpose.”
Streety was saved by a bulletproof vest — and a special coin he had in his pocket, which helped stop one of the bullets. (See Images Of The Coin)
Police said Eddy was stopped by the officer, a struggle started and, according to reports, Eddy pulled out a gun and shot the officer several times.
Streety was attempting to arrest Eddy for warrants issued from Brevard County for multiple traffic violations, officials said.
Eddy said he shot the officer during the routine traffic stop because he had prior traffic tickets and had a warrant out for his arrest for driving without a license.
“I felt my freedom was being violated,” Eddy said. “It was just unjust they way they treated me. They pulled me over, gave me some traffic tickets and sent me right to the court.”
Investigators said they’ve been putting the pressure on Eddy and apparently he couldn’t take it anymore. They said he made one big mistake leading to his capture on Friday when he tried to steal a car from an armed neighbor.
Investigators said they brought the 46-hour manhunt to an end with “luck, intensity and aggression.”
Police said when Eddy tried to steal the car and he was approached by the armed homeowner, Eddy took off running.
“He kept yelling out to the homeowner, ‘I’m homeless, I’m homeless,’” said Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Major Andrew Walters. “You could see he was bug-bitten, but he did see a firearm.”
Walters said when police found Eddy, the fugitive emerged from the sand dunes and turned himself in.
“He led them to a makeshift camp he had been staying in and showed them the firearm,” Walters said.
On Thursday, Eddy’s girlfriend was arrested and is still being held in a Brevard County jail without bond.
A judge said that any attempt on the life of a law enforcement officer “tears at the fabric of our society” and that he wanted her to stay in jail until she comes before a jury on charges of accessory to attempted murder of a law enforcement officer.
Tammi Temple, 37, was arrested Thursday, the same day that what was later identified as a shrapnel bomb was found at her home.
Police found the shrapnel bomb when they served a search warrant at Temple’s home in Melbourne in connection with Wednesday night’s shooting of the FWC law enforcement officer.
Investigators said Temple was in the car with Eddy when he shot the officer. Police said she didn’t come to Streety’s aide but rather helped Eddy get away. Deputies said Floyd Johnson helped Eddy escape, as well. He has been charged with being an accessory after the shooting.
“All I want is a peaceful life,” Eddy said. “I just want some freedom. I guess I’ll never get out of jail for this dumb (expletive).”

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