Oct 16, 2014
Navarre meth lab shut down
When officers searched a Hillview Court home in early October, they found a grocery list and a related recipe. But the list wasn’t for Saturday errands, and the recipe wasn’t for apple pie. Instead, it was an outline of ingredients and directions to produce methamphetamines.
Sep 18, 2014
Child molester gets to 3 life sentences
70-year-old Paul Frank Small, Jr. has been found guilty by a Santa Rosa County jury of two counts of sexual battery upon a child less than 12 years of age, lewd or lascivious molestation and lewd or lascivious exhibition in the presence of a child. Small was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences with an additional 15 year sentence.
Sep 18, 2014
Female carjacker sentenced in Pensacola
A local carjacker has been sentenced to 20 years minimum mandatory in a state prison. 19 year old Brianna Nicole Armour used the social media website “tagged.com” to lure three victims into meeting her at which point she either stole or attempted to steal their car each time.
Sep 11, 2014
Local vehicle theft ring halted
A vehicle theft ring that targeted victims along Hwy 98 in Navarre and Gulf Breeze has been stopped. A total of five suspects were arrested and all six vehicles including a Chevy Tahoe and a Z71 have been recovered.
Sep 4, 2014
Craigslist ad ends in violent home invasion
A Craigslist search for a “female companion” apparently turned into a violent robbery in the early hours of Aug. 27 in Gulf Breeze. Steven Carl Struck told Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office deputies that he had been corresponding via e-mail and text messaging with a woman as a result of the ad. The woman, later identified as Holly Caudle, identified herself as “Gloria,” upon arrival at his home at 2 a.m.. She was accompanied by another man, later identified as Robert Fraser. According the report, Struck allowed both into his home after they asked to use the restroom.
Aug 28, 2014
Alcohol-involved shooting kills victim
20-year-old James “Hunter” Gates of Pace, Fl has been charged with homicide-negligent manslaughter after firing a shotgun while under the influence of alcohol.
Aug 21, 2014
Renfro sentenced to 45 years
40-year-old Ramon Wade Renfro of Pace was sentenced to 45 years in prison Aug. 13 by Circuit Judge John F. Simon, who also issued a 5-year concurrent sentence for violation of a pre-existing felony probation from 2011.
Aug 14, 2014
Woman accused of killing newborn indicted
A Fort Walton Beach woman accused of killing her newborn child by putting her inside a plastic bag and placing her outside in a garbage can in February has been indicted on charges of First Degree Premeditated Murder and/or First Degree Felony Murder and Aggravated Child Abuse.
Aug 14, 2014
2 local residents arrested after high-speed pursuit
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office reported Aug. 11 that one person apprehended Friday night in Atmore, Alabama, following a high-speed pursuit had been arrested earlier the same week in Santa Rosa County and accused of narcotics-related crimes.
Aug 14, 2014
Traffic stop nets 3 on narcotics charges
Three Santa Rosa County residents, including one from Gulf Breeze, face narcotics charges after being arrested following a routine traffic stop.