Former Cocoa High star, Super Bowl champion faces arson charges

A former standout Brevard high school football player who went on to an NFL career remained jailed Friday, July 17, on arson charges after fire damaged vehicles and a building at Tropic Care of Florida in West Melbourne.

Javian A’Trell Hawkins, 26, of Titusville, who previously had been fired from the landscape business, was arrested July 16, West Melbourne police said in a Facebook post. He is charged with armed burglary, arson of a structure or business, three counts of arson involving a vehicle or structure, and criminal mischief over $1,000 in damage.

Brevard County Fire Rescue extinguished the fire, while investigators determined the circumstances to be suspicious, police said. Hawkins was taken into custody without incident. He is being held on $280,000 bond at the Brevard County Jail Complex, with his next court appearance slated for Aug. 13.

Officers responded early the morning of July 15 to reports of multiple vehicles on fire outside Tropic Care, located at 7635 Progress Circle, police said in the social media post.

“Upon arrival, officers observed three pickup trucks engulfed in flames, with the fire spreading to the exterior of the commercial building,” the release stated.

The investigation leading to Hawkins’ arrest included surveillance video, physical evidence, witness interviews and an accelerant detection K-9.

Police said the suspect “unlawfully entered the secured property, obtained gasoline from an unlocked work vehicle, and intentionally ignited multiple company vehicles. The resulting fire caused extensive damage to the vehicles and the business … Witnesses familiar with Hawkins identified him from surveillance footage, and additional evidence gathered during the investigation supported his involvement.”

Arson “is an intentional act that puts lives, businesses, and our community at risk,” said West Melbourne Police Lt. Graig Erenstoft.

“Thanks to the outstanding work of our detectives and our partnership with the Florida State Fire Marshal's Office, we were able to quickly identify and apprehend the individual responsible. We remain committed to ensuring those who commit these dangerous crimes are held fully accountable.”

Suspect had stellar high school football career in Brevard

Hawkins is a former high school football star in Brevard who owns a Super Bowl ring.

He began his high school football career at Astronaut, but transferred to Cocoa for his junior and senior seasons, graduating in 2018.

He had more than 4,000 yards rushing and 40 TDs in high school.

After Cocoa, he played college football at the University of Louisville.

As a redshirt freshman in 2019, he broke the school single-season rushing record with 1,525 on 264 carries with nine touchdowns.

Hawkins entered the NFL Draft in 2021.

Hawkins wasn't drafted but signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2021. He was released prior to the start of the 2021 season.

He was then signed by the Tennessee Titans but was released five days later.

It worked out for the best. Hawkins next signed with the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 20, 2021. He was placed on the team’s practice squad, where he remained for the season, receiving a championship ring as part of the team that won Super Bowl 56.

After being waived by the Rams in 2022, Hawkins went to play in the Canadian Football League.

Hawkins last played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and was released by the team in June 2023.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Former Cocoa High star, Super Bowl champion faces arson charges