Melbourne, Florida Officers Tackle the Wrong Teen, Dislocate His Elbow — Report Conflicts With Bodycam

In late June 2026, Melbourne Police responded after a mother called about difficulty controlling her 16-year-old son, Armani, and — according to bodycam reviewed by The Civil Rights Lawyer — asked officers to make the response “dramatic.” Officers encountered Judah Everidge, then 15, a different teen entirely, and used force before confirming he was not Armani. Local reporting and Civil Rights Lawyer coverage state Judah’s elbow was dislocated during the takedown.

Civil Rights Lawyer coverage and the teen’s counsel argue that written-report claims of noncompliance or a waistband reach conflict with the bodycam footage. Officer William Markle resigned effective July 9, 2026, about 15 days after the incident; his resignation letter cited other career opportunities. Local outlets reported the family and counsel pursuing claims against the city. No criminal charges against officers were reported in the sources used for this report.

Attorney John H. Bryan’s analysis further argues that even a takedown of the correct teen would not have been justified under the Graham use-of-force factors on the facts alleged in the 911 call — legal commentary, not a court finding.