Man charged in March shooting near Stone Middle School arrested for animal cruelty

The man charged with shooting two people in March near Stone Middle School in Melbourne is back behind bars for animal cruelty.

Michael Postell, 41, of Melbourne remains incarcerated without bond at the Brevard County Jail Complex. He was arrested Wednesday by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit.

Postell was arrested with a co-defendant, Alicia Hayes, 42, of Melbourne. Both were charged with animal cruelty after Sasha, their small bulldog mix, was found chained to a doghouse and covered in parasites and insects in March, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said in a Facebook post.

Sasha was unable to stand under her own power, and a BCSO animal services officer had to carry her from her Williams Street backyard, an arrest affidavit said. She was anemic and suffering from hypothermia with a body temperature of 91 degrees.

A capias for Postell and Hayes' arrests was issued Nov. 22.

More:Police seek suspect behind shooting outside Stone Middle School

More:For South Melbourne residents, 'frustration' amid community progress as shootings persist

Postell had been released on felony bond for charges stemming from the March shooting. Just before 4 p.m. on March 4, a Monday, he fired roughly a dozen shots at a vehicle on University Boulevard about 30 yards from the Stone Middle School bus loop, an arrest affidavit said.

The Stone Middle School dean witnessed the shooting from near the bus loop — and he hit the ground for cover, called 911 and radioed officials to lock down the school, the affidavit said.

The driver and passenger inside the car that was shot suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, and they drove to Palm Bay High School and ran inside for safety.

A track meet was underway at Stone Middle School, and Palm Bay High School was also placed under lockdown.

Postell faces charges of aggravated battery, shooting into an occupied vehicle and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. A docket sounding is scheduled for Dec. 12 at the Moore Justice Center in Viera.

Hayes was released from jail on $2,000 bond.

Sasha was nursed back to health by veterinarians and staffers at the BCSO Animal Care Center on Eau Gallie Boulevard, Ivey said on Facebook.

Neale is the South Brevard watchdog reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. 

Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @RickNeale1