A 60-year-old man from Ravena, New York was arrested Friday morning after allegedly vandalizing multiple hearses and vehicles at two Titusville funeral homes using an axe and a knife, according to authorities.

John Edward Dietsch was taken into custody around 11:27 a.m. at the Three Oaks Motel, located at 707 S. Hopkins Ave., following reports of repeated vandalism at North Brevard Funeral Home and Lewis-Ray Mortuary.

According to police reports, officers initially responded to North Brevard Funeral Home at 1450 Norwood Ave. on Aug. 6 after staff discovered three vehicles damaged overnight.

Security video showed an unmasked suspect flattening hearse tires, keying vehicle sides, breaking windows, and walking directly toward the camera holding an axe and a cell phone.

Police said Dietsch also targeted Lewis-Ray Mortuary at 1595 S. Hopkins Ave., slashing all the tires on their hearse. Later that evening, Dietsch returned to North Brevard Funeral Home to smash additional vehicle windows with an axe and went back to Lewis-Ray Mortuary to slash the remaining tires on their hearse, according to investigators.

Investigators identified Dietsch from the security footage and noted he had left a voicemail with North Brevard Funeral Home’s answering service identifying himself and telling the business to “stand down.”

When Dietsch returned to North Brevard Funeral Home on the morning of Aug. 7, staff alerted police. Officers located Dietsch in Room 19 at the nearby Three Oaks Motel, where he surrendered without incident. An axe was observed inside his vehicle, which was impounded for evidence.

Dietsch faces two felony counts of criminal mischief with property damage estimated at more than $3,500 across both locations.

He is currently held at the Brevard County Detention Center on $10,000 bond. Police described the incidents as targeted and isolated, stating there is no ongoing threat to the general public.

Sources

• Titusville Police Department arrest affidavit
• Titusville Police Department news release