Sheriff’s report alleges Florida boy set on fire for ‘revenge’ in ‘torturous attack'

by Kay B. Day

The narrative of a vicious crime in Deerfield Beach, Florida, reads like a horror story. A 15-year-old student at Deerfield Beach Middle School, Michael Brewer,  was accused by other boys of snitching. Members of the group allegedly tried to steal the boy’s father’s bike and the family reported the attempt to the sheriff. Then a chance encounter at Lime Street Apts. when the victim Michael Brewer skipped school—reportedly fearing revenge—resulted in serious charges against 5 teens.

The official Broward Sheriff’s Office news release alleged, “When he [Brewer] tried to walk away Denver Jarvis splashed him with alcohol and [Jesus] Mendez used a lighter to set him ablaze.”

The sheriff’s report said, “Deputies arrived along with Deerfield Beach firefighters and found the victim, Michael Brewer, sitting in a lawn chair near the pool. The teen was burned extensively above the waist. The young victim said that he was splashed with a flammable liquid and then set ablaze. A BSO helicopter transported the victim to Broward General Medical Center. He was later transferred to a burn center in Miami.”

The Miami Herald said Brewer got loose and jumped into the pool at the apartment complex. Brewer faces a long recovery from extensive burns on almost all of his body, according to various media. Media also allege a number of the boys in the group had been in trouble before.

From a street view on a Google map, the apartments sit in a densely populated area; one independent apartment rating site showed an average rating of 3 stars out of 5.

Four of the 5 teens accused are from Pompano Beach; ages for all 5 range between 13-15 years old. The Broward County Sheriff’s Office has posted photos of each alleged participant and a news release related to the crime. The release said, “The suspects are all charged with Aggravated Battery and were taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center. Mendez, who actually flicked the lighter, is charged with Attempted Second Degree murder.”

Officers who wrote the report noted, “Revenge was the motive for the torturous attack.”