Jacksonville police kick Indiana murder suspect in face to keep him from getting away

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. —

Aug. 24 Update: A man wanted for the murder of an 18-year-old in Indiana was arrested Thursday on Jacksonville’s Westside.

According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, SWAT was called out to an apartment on Firestone Road after U.S. Marshalls tracked Derice Wilson, 27, to that location.

Police said his girlfriend, Yashika Clowers, 37, helped him get into the apartment’s attic.

SWAT deployed gas and cleared the apartment. During the search, they found two empty gun cases, but no suspect.

After police learned it was possible for the suspect to move from one apartment to another by using the attic, a team was sent inside the attic to get him.

The arrest report states Wilson ended up falling from the attic and tried to run through a nearby bedroom.

When he fell, JSO said his hands weren’t visible. Due to his violent history and the high likelihood that Wilson could be armed, JSO said it was imperative that he did not get away.

At one point during the takedown, Wilson was kicked several times in the face by police, the report stated, to prevent him from running off.

Wilson was “sweating profusely” and “did not appear to feel pain and appeared to be out of touch with reality,” JSO stated.

After several attempts to get away from police, officers eventually were able to arrest him.

There was also an out-of-state warrant for Clowers’ arrest for reportedly helping a criminal who committed a murder, the report stated.

She was also taken into custody.

Original Story from Aug. 19:

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office SWAT team is responding to an investigation on the Westside.

Several viewers tell Action News Jax they see a heavy police presence at Firestone and Wheat roads near the Colonial Forest Apartments.

Duval County Public Schools said Westside High School was never on lockdown due to the investigation, however, some students who walk home are being affected because some areas are blocked off.

©2021 Cox Media Group