As crimes mount at popular campsite, Brevard authorities step up patrols

MELBOURNE — After West Melbourne native David Thornton reserved a Wickham Park campsite over the phone, he drove 1,200 miles from Temple, Texas, with his wife and three Chihuahuas to relax and see old friends for a week in July.

But upon arrival, Thornton was shocked by the number of apparently homeless people occupying tarp-covered tents and trailers across Campground A, where some tourists stay in $60,000 recreational vehicles.

And that first night, just after 1 a.m., Melbourne police swarmed Campground A and arrested a 41-year-old indigent Palm Bay man for battery domestic violence after he repeatedly punched his girlfriend of 10 years in the face, reports show.

As the week wore on, Thornton said up to a dozen people would drink beer and “raise a bunch of hell” at night on the lot next door, where people live in an aging camper and accompanying tent. On July 12, the Thorntons finally had enough and packed up two days early after an unleashed dog from that trailer attacked Chloe their Chihuahua — for a third time.

“The night prior to that, there was a drunk fest in the park where all the homeless people were stumbling around like they were drunk zombies,” Thornton said.

Brevard County Parks and Recreation operates the 133-site facility — and the park ranger staff has added a private security service to patrol the campgrounds at night. The first patrols will start at 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Since April 3, Melbourne police have logged at least 39 incidents at the Wickham Park campgrounds, police reports and dispatch records show.

Complaints have included loud arguments and disputes, threats, thefts, people drinking and doing methamphetamine, and suspicious adults with children inside “a small ‘Breaking Bad’-style motor home.” Among the most severe cases: A 23-year-old man who lives in Campground A was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery on a pregnant person and resisting an officer without violence after he held a knife to his wife’s throat inside their tent.

A Florida Department of Children and Families investigator conducted a urine test on a 34-year-old mother who lives in Campground A — and she tested positive for morphine, benzodiazepines, oxycodone and methadone. The mother was living at the campsite with her children, ages 1 and 4.

A 42-year-old homeless man was arrested for domestic violence assault after he lunged at his homeless boyfriend and threatened to kill him as they were leaving a campground.

In mid-June, a pregnant woman who lives with her family in Campground B screamed for help and yelled for someone to call 911 at 6:39 a.m. after she discovered her food was missing. Five days later, a tow truck operator repossessed a 2012 Ford Escape from a Campground B campsite at 1:51 a.m.

“Staff have met with representatives from the Melbourne Police Department, Brevard County Housing and Human Services, the County Attorney’s Office and community outreach representatives to discuss concerns,” said Don Walker, county spokesman.

“Staff are working with the Melbourne Police Department and community assistance organizations to provide outreach information. Additionally, the park ranger staff has been augmented with a private security service,” Walker said.

Walker said security personnel will patrol from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., making scheduling adjustments as necessary.

Florida’s Space Coast Office of Tourism website touts Wickham Park as a popular campground featuring many amenities, such as swimming areas and a playground.

With tax, camping costs $24 per day or $598 per month, which includes water, sewer and electric hookups. Quiet hours are from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

After Thornton complained and detailed his camping experience, county officials refunded his $164 bill.