14-YEAR-OLD EMERALD COAST MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES Posted on October 18, 2022 October 18, 2022   WALTON COUNTY, Fla— A student from Emerald Coast Middle School is facing felony charges after providing drugs to his friends while on the bus to school. The Walton County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Deputy was alerted to the incident Tuesday morning shortly after the start of school when a student went to the nurse’s office with side effects consistent with drug use. The VICENarcotics Unit responded to the school. The student was identified and interviewed by deputies with a parent in attendance. The teen admitted to bringing cannabis, mushrooms, and chips – possibly laced with an unknown substance – to campus. All parents whose children were involved were quickly notified by the School District and have since been removed from school. At this time, there is no evidence any of the mushrooms were consumed – only edibles and chips. It’s believed this instance is isolated to a group of friends and that no other student is involved and that the drugs were acquired off campus. The student was arrested and charged with two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance. At this time, Walton County Sheriff’s Office has chosen not to publish the student’s name on our social media channels due to the lack of criminal history. The safety of our students is of the utmost importance to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office and our partners at the Walton County... Read More

NORTH CAROLINA MAN CHARGED WITH MOSSY HEAD VEHICLE BURGLARY, CAUGHT ON SURVEILLANCE VIDEO Posted on October 18, 2022   October 18, 2022 WALTON COUNTY, Fla— A Charlotte, North Carolina man is arrested for vehicle burglary after being spotted in the area days after the incident. On Saturday, October 15th, Walton County Sheriff’s Office was called to Empire Truck Sales in Mossy Head in response to a burglary of a vehicle parked inside the fence awaiting repair. The victim told deputies the burglar was seen on security video on Thursday, October 13th on Sand Mine Road before walking around to the south side of the business. The suspect is seen crawling underneath a fence, walking straight to the vehicle, and stealing electrical relays estimated at $1500 to $4000 in value. Monday evening, deputies responded to a suspicious person call at the I-10 Love’s Truck Stop with a description of the same suspect responsible for the burglary. The caller told dispatchers the person was walking up and down the property’s fence line. Deputies responded, quickly locating the suspect, Keannon Crank, 26, of Charlotte, North Carolina, coming out of the woods. Crank wore the same clothing as he was the night of the burglary. Crank was arrested without incident and charged with grand theft and burglary. He was given a $10,000 bond and is still incarcerated at the time of this release.   https://waltonso.org/news/feed/ Read More

FLORIDA HEALTH NAMES WALTON COUNTY FIRE RESCUE TOP EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE IN FLORIDA Posted on September 22, 2022 September 22, 2022 ORLANDO, Fla – When residents need medical care in times of an emergency, it’s Walton County Fire Rescue who answers the call. The organization has been tapped as the Florida Health 2022 EMS Provider of the Year. The recognition was presented by the Florida Department of Health at the State EMS Advisory Council meetings in Orlando last week. Walton County Fire Rescue is the sole provider of emergency medical transport in Walton County north of the Choctawhatchee Bay – currently operating without a hospital in their area of responsibility which serves approximately 44,000 residents. “This award highlights the men and women who provide lifesaving services in times of crisis in Walton County and the exceptional work they do,” said Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “This is a small way of honoring the brave medical professionals who ensure the public’s health and safety in times of emergencies.” The recognition is awarded yearly, recognizing Walton County Fire Rescue as the top provider in the state as they lead the way in outstanding initiatives in public education and training and provide exceptional quality assurance and improvement. This year Walton County Fire Rescue provided CPR classes to students in every public high school in the county and implemented the “Sign-up, Stand Out” program which assists residents in installing explicit home addressing. In 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic, Walton County Fire Rescue initiated their Community Paramedicine... Read More

DEFUNIAK SPRINGS MAN CONVICTED OF MOLESTATING GIRLS UNDER 12 SENTENCED TO TWO LIFE SENTENCES PLUS 15 YEARS Posted on September 20, 2022 A DeFuniak Springs man found guilty of three counts of molestation is sentenced to two life sentences plus 15 years in Florida Department of Corrections. Jacob J. Ramirez, 32, was initially charged in July of 2021 for sexually abusing three children left in his care under the age of 12. Ramirez was charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim less than 12 years of age, and one count of lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim 12 years or older. On Tuesday, September 20th, he was sentenced by Judge Kelvin Wells.   https://waltonso.org/news/feed/ Read More

TWO ARRESTED BY WCSO LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER DEFUNIAK SPRINGS BURGLARY CAUGHT ON CAMERA Posted on September 12, 2022 September 12, 2022 WALTON COUNTY, Fla— A burglary is captured on home surveillance video and two DeFuniak Springs men are facing charges following their arrest by Walton County Sheriff’s Office. On September 10th, Jack Adair III was identified from security camera footage on a property off Imperial Court in Defuniak Springs using a knife to cut a screen door and gain access to the victim’s back porch. Adair is seen in the video stealing a leaf blower, cooler, and other items. Also on camera, a dark-colored truck belonging to William Parker pulls up to Adair near the home where Adair is seen placing the stolen items into the bed of the truck. The vehicle is last seen headed southbound on Imperial Court. The following day, deputies were able to track Adair to his last known location at the Sundown Inn where they recovered the stolen items. Adair was arrested following a traffic stop a short time later. Parker was arrested at his home on Aero Drive. Adair is charged with burglary, petit theft, dealing in stolen property, and criminal mischief. He was given a $10,000 bond and is still incarcerated at the time of this release. Parker is charged with petit theft and dealing in stolen property. He was given a $5,000 bond and is still incarcerated at the time of this release.   https://waltonso.org/news/feed/ Read More

AFTER TWO AND A HALF HOUR STAND-OFF ARMED HIT-AND-RUN SUSPECT SAFELY TAKEN INTO CUSTODY Posted on August 29, 2022 Shane Fleming, 35 August 29, 2022 WALTON COUNTY, Fla— After a two- and half-hour standoff, a hit-and-run suspect who armed himself with a gun is safely taken into custody and arrested at a home in Freeport. Sunday evening Walton County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a hit-and-run where the suspect vehicle left the scene and headed south on County Highway 83A East. When the deputies caught up with the car, the driver immediately turned into an address on County Highway 83A West. The suspect, identified at that time as Shane Fleming, 35, ran inside a building adjacent to the home. Fleming spent the next several minutes coming to the door, yelling, and slamming the door back on deputies. While deputies attempted to contact the home’s owner, Fleming fled into the main house on the property and again spent several minutes opening the front door, screaming, and then going back inside. After the fourth time, Fleming came to the door with a handgun threatening to shoot at deputies, and went back inside the adjacent building. The owner of the home said he had let Fleming stay in the renovated building so he could get back on his feet but that he did not have permission to gain access to the main house or the firearm. A perimeter was set up around the home and SWAT and Crises Negotiation Unit were called... Read More

FREEPORT MAN ARRESTED AFTER INTENTIONALLY SETTING HOME ON FIRE; KILLING DOG Posted on August 25, 2022 August 25, 2022 WALTON COUNTY, Fla— A freeport man has been charged with arson and animal cruelty after intentionally setting his home on fire and killing one of the family dogs. Walton County Sheriff’s Office and Walton County Fire Rescue initially responded to the home on Madiera Drive in Freeport just after 9 pm Wednesday night. Deputies evacuated numerous homes while firefighters fought the blaze. When first responders arrived, the home was fully engulfed, and the owner, Kevin Powell, 46, was behaving very erratically. At one point, Powell retrieved a tool from one of WCFR’s fire engines and was using it to damage his vehicle. He was detained for his own safety and later admitted to setting his house on fire, spreading ammunition around the inside of the home, locking his two dogs in a closet, and lighting the floor outside of it on fire. Only one of the dogs escaped the home. While in custody, Powell was verbally abusive and continually made attempts to get out of his handcuffs. Powell was charged with second-degree arson and animal cruelty and was transported to the Walton County Jail.   https://waltonso.org/news/feed/ Read More

TWO WALTON COUNTY MEN CONVICTED ON FEDERAL CHARGES FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING Posted on August 23, 2022 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, August 19, 2022 United States Attorney’s Office Northern District of Florida PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – A federal jury in Pensacola has convicted Kenneth Ingram, 62, and Kadeem Ingram, 32, both of DeFuniak Springs, Florida for the offenses of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of cocaine base and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Kadeem Ingram was also convicted of distribution of cocaine or cocaine base which occurred on two occasions in July 2019. The guilty verdict returned on August 17, 2022, at the conclusion of a three-day trial, was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. Evidence introduced during the trial revealed that the Ingrams conspired with others to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. In 2019, the Ingrams took monthly trips to South Florida to procure large quantities of cocaine. The cocaine purchased, which was, in part, converted to cocaine base, was then distributed by Kadeem Ingram and a co-conspirator. A months-long investigation culminated in law enforcement seizing approximately 1.5 kilograms of cocaine from a vehicle the Ingrams possessed on July 13, 2019. The Ingrams are scheduled to be sentenced before United States District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers on November 16, 2022, at 9:00 a.m., at the United... Read More

TWO ARRESTED, INVESTIGATION ONGOING INTO INCIDENT ON MADGE LANE IN SANTA ROSA BEACH Posted on August 22, 2022 August 22, 2022 WALTON COUNTY, Fla— Two men have been arrested following an incident on Madge Lane in Santa Rosa Beach early Sunday morning. In the early morning hours of August 21st, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office responded to Madge Lane to a report of a fight where multiple people were injured. When deputies first got on the scene, they located Juan Diego Perez Castillo, 20, punching a window in the back of the house. When deputies attempted to detain him, Castillo fled. He was later found hiding in a red shed. Castillo refused to comply with multiple commands, was tased, and eventually taken into custody. While searching the area for Castillo, deputies located Roberto Rivera-Loza, 29, who had injuries consistent with a fight. He was heavily intoxicated and refused to walk to the patrol car or cooperate with deputies. When he began to resist, Loza was tased and taken into custody. Later, deputies learned one of the people involved in the fight had fled to a residence on East Harborview Road. Once they arrived, they found an individual with a stab wound to the abdomen. He was transported to a local hospital. An additional individual who was hit in the head was later transported to a local hospital, treated, and released. Rivera-Loza is charged with affray, obstruction, and disorderly intoxication causing a public disturbance. He was given a $5,000 bond and... Read More

WALTON COUNTY CAR BURGLARY SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN BAY COUNTY, FACE CHARGES FROM MULTIPLE AGENCIES Posted on August 17, 2022 August 17, 2022 WALTON COUNTY, Fla— Burglary suspects who broke into a car while the victims enjoyed the beach have been arrested in Bay County. The burglary occurred sometime between 2:30 pm and 3:30 pm on August 15th on Seabreeze Trail in Inlet Beach. The suspects entered the victim’s vehicle and took two backpacks, a wallet, and a purse. The suspects disabled the lock on the driver’s side door to get into the vehicle. The backpacks and purse contained the ID and several credit cards belonging to three separate victims along with a small amount of cash. “This is a very rare occurrence in our county,” said Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “We still want to encourage our residents to lock their doors and take their belongings – don’t leave anything in plain sight.” An investigation revealed the suspects used the stolen credit cards at Publix, Walgreens, and Target located in Panama City Beach. Video surveillance obtained by Walton County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigators Bureau shows a male and female using the stolen cards. WCSO Criminal Intelligence Division was able to match the suspects to a rental vehicle in the area at the time of the burglary. A BOLO (be on the lookout) was created and information was passed on to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. The two suspects, identified as Katherine Gutierrez, 28, and Adrian Diaz Rodriguez, 26, were taken into custody... Read More