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Palm Bay detectives continued searching for a suspect Monday afternoon after they canvassed a neighborhood near Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church during a New Year's Day nighttime manhunt — which was initially reported as a shooting investigation, triggering trepidation and hundreds of social media comments from residents. Ni 80
But with a 3:15 p.m. Monday Facebook update, Palm Bay police made the announcement: "The suspect is in custody."
The suspect has not been publicly identified, and further details have not been released.
Sunday night, Palm Bay police had warned residents via social media to be on the lookout for a 40-year-old man with a full beard, dark shirt and jeans who "may be on foot and should be considered armed and dangerous."
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Officers descended Sunday night across the vicinity of Malabar Road and Eldron Boulevard, roughly ½-mile east of Minton Road. At 11:05 p.m. Sunday, police reported that the scene was secure.
"After further investigation, it was learned that a shooting did not occur. The victim in this case suffered from lacerations and remains in stable condition," police said in a Monday afternoon Facebook post.
The unidentified victim of the apparent stabbing had been listed in stable condition Sunday night at a local hospital, police said.
By Monday, police had determined "this was an isolated incident between roommates and there is no direct threat to the public," the Facebook update said.
The neighborhood in question lies a couple of blocks east of the police department headquarters and Palm Bay City Hall.
Detectives ask anyone with information to call the police department at 321-952-3456 or Central Florida Crimeline, which accepts anonymous tips, at 800-423-TIPS.
Rick Neale is the South Brevard Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @RickNeale1
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