FDLE agents arrest Melbourne police officer on felony battery charge

Forty-seven year-old Melbourne Police Officer, Christpher Eisen II, was arrested Friday afternoon, on charges of felony battery against a Palm Bay man.   Eisen turned himself in to the Brevard County Jail Friday evening.

"The entire incident is extremely disappointing. The behaviors that are alleged to have happened certainly don't fit within anything that we tolerate or espouse for our police officers," said Mike McNees, City Manager of the City of Melbourne.

Eisen is accused of punching David Martin several times after arresting him, and putting him in handcuffs.  McNees said, "It's certainly not anything that we're going to tolerate or allow in the City of Melbourne Police Department."

FDLE said agents began investigating Officer Eisen, at the request of Melbourne Police Chief,Steve Mimbs.

Chief Mimbs released a statement saying, in part, "We absolutely will not tolerate these types of activities, and will be thorough and relentless when allegations such as these arise."

McNees said the city decided last Fall, to select an outside consultant to study Melbourne's Police Department's strengths and weaknesses. Othe past year, 25 officers have been investigated for various allegations.

"... and help us identify what are our cultural issues, what are things we're always going to have to make sure we're doing the right things going forward?" McNees explained.

Eisen was released on bond Friday evening, according to the Melbourne Police Department.

Melbourne's Police Department said Eisen will be placed on Administrative suspension without pay. An FDLE spokeswoman said the State Attorneys Office is now involved.