Case of teens who watched man drown given to Brevard County state attorney

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — The Brevard County State Attorney’s Office will review a case in which five teens recorded a man’s drowning and never reported the death to Cocoa police.

Prosecutors will decide if the teens, who range in age 14 to 18, will be charged with a crime.

The video of the teens mocking the death of Jamel Dunn, 31, of Cocoa, sparked online outrage.

Investigators were initially told by the State Attorney’s Office that while there was no moral justification for the July 9 incident at Bracco Pond Park, there wasn’t sufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution under Florida statutes.

Read: Teens record, taunt drowning man in Cocoa; no charges filed, police say

Dunn’s body wasn’t found until July 14, when a passerby saw his body floating in the pond.

Police announced Friday that they would be able to recommend charges against the teens under Florida Statute 406.12, which says a person who witnesses a death must report it to a medical examiner.

Police said it’s a misdemeanor charge that hasn’t been applied in a case like this.

Police said video evidence showed that Dunn went into the water on his own.

A neighbor’s security camera showed Dunn scaling a fence and intentionally going into the pond, police said.

The identities of the teens have not been released by police.

State Attorney Phil Archer said in a statement, "There is no timeline for completion and our office will conduct an exhaustive inquiry into the information provided by the Cocoa Police Department, as well as pursue any investigative leads or information uncovered during that process."

Florida state legislator Debbie Mayfield said she is planning to draft a bill that would make it a crime not to render aid to someone in need.

This is a developing story. Check wftv.com for updates.

Cox Media Group