DeLand, FL - Volusia Sheriff's (VSO) deputies arrested 58-year-old Derick Velez, a former Monroe Sheriff's deputy, yesterday (August 5), charging him with aggravated stalking after he made a series of threats against his family and others.
Of note, Velez also operates a children’s clown business and occasionally performs as “Po Po the Clown.”
The arrest comes after a detective met with Velez's wife yesterday where she said that she was concerned about statements and threats that her husband Derick had recently made. She said he was acting 'increasingly bizarre and aggressive."
Investigators say that Velez had been in Halifax Behaviorial since July 31 when he was taken into protective custody from an Ex-Parte order. On that day, Velez called and threatened his wife and did the same almost eveyday until his arrest. The wife said she told him to stop calling and harassing her. Accroding to the police report, "It should be noted, the statements followed weeks of threatening behaviour, with Velez making statements that he was going to commit mass murders, he believed he was a prophet of God and has been commanded to form an armay and they were going to rise up."
Before the arrest, detectives heard from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office to provide background information on Velez and warn local deputies and police about his threatening behavior. Velez had also made threats against former colleagues in law enforcement in Monroe County.
Velez is being held without bond.
