staff report

DEFUNIAK SPRINGS — A bag of large knives was found within arm’s reach of a man who said he thought about killing the sheriff’s deputy who pulled him over.

According to a press release from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, on March 9 a deputy on routine patrol observed a camouflage Jeep traveling eastbound on U.S. Highway 90 near Gene Hurley Road. The tag displayed on the Jeep turned out to be registered to a 2007 Blue Hyundai Sonata.

The deputy pulled the vehicle over in a convenience store parking lot located on Highway 90. The subject said he didn’t have a license. He was escorted out of the vehicle and detained. The man would not provide his identification information. He eventually provided his information and an Alabama I.D. advising he was James Melvin Long Jr. out of Alabama. A check of his information revealed his Alabama Driver License had been revoked since Aug. 17, 1994.

Further investigation revealed an active warrant out of Dothan Police Department for burglary, according to WCSO. Dothan PD confirmed they would extradite and asked WCSO to place a hold on the subject.

The vehicle Long was driving was a 1996 Green Jeep Cherokee. A check of the Jeep’s VIN revealed it was reported stolen out of Dothan. 

Throughout the interaction with the deputy, Long stated that he thought about harming him when he pulled him over. During the stop, a duffel bag full of large knives was located within reach in the back seat 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.