For Immediate Release

March 9, 2018

DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, Fla—A bag of large knives were found within arms reach of a man who said he thought about killing the Deputy that pulled him over.

On March 9th a deputy on routine patrol observed a camouflage Jeep traveling eastbound on US Highway 90 near Gene Hurley Rd. The tag displayed on the Jeep was queried and came back to a 2007 Blue Hyundai Sonata.

The Deputy pulled the vehicle over in the Tom Thumb parking lot located on Highway 90. The subject stated he didn’t have a license. He was escorted out of the vehicle and detained. The male would not provide his identification information. He eventually provided his information and an Alabama ID advising he was James Melvin Long Jr. out of Alabama. A check of his information revealed his AL Driver License had been revoked since 8/17/1994.

Further investigation revealed an active warrant out of Dothan Police Department for “Burglary 3rd Bond: $15,000”. Dothan PD confirmed they would extradite and wished for us to place a hold on the subject.

The vehicle Long was driving was a 1996 Green Jeep Cherokee. The tag was attached not assigned, however not reported stolen. A check of the Jeep’s VIN revealed it was reported stolen out of Dothan PD.

Throughout the interaction with the Deputy, Long stated that he thought about harming him when he pulled him over. During the stop was a duffel bag of large knives within reach of him in the backseat of the vehicle. He advised it almost went “very differently” for the deputy. He asked the Deputy continuously if he woke up “thinking it may be his last day.”

Long told the deputy he thought about “having court” on the side of the road in lieu of being arrested, but God told him not to harm the deputy. He stated to the deputy that “He didn’t know who he had just caught” and that he was his “next promotion” by catching him.

Long was transported to the Walton County Jail without incident. He awaits extradition back to Alabama.