A rash of vehicle burglaries spanning Escambia, Santa Rosa and Baldwin counties came to an end last week. During a news conference Oct. 30, Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson said investigators have identified the individuals responsible for at least 10 burglaries and an armed robbery in Santa Rosa County. Read the full article in […]
Thanks to the quick work of Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s deputies in Navarre, a stolen puppy was recovered safely Aug. 31, just in time to get adopted. The incident occurred during an adoption event at Pet Nation. Store owner Holly Elassaad hosts Road Dogg Rescue at least once a month, allowing the group to hold adoption […]
After more than four years, witness statements about a homicide in Milton have led Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s deputies to arrest the victim’s previous roommate Monday. John Travis Palmer has been charged with first-degree felony homicide for allegedly shooting the victim in the head according the arrest report provided by the State Attorney’s Office. Santa Rosa […]
Okaloosa County sheriff’s deputies seized more than 1,700 grams of illegal drugs during a welfare check in Mary Esther Aug. 12. According to a press release, deputies responded to a call to check on a man asleep in a car at a Sonic Drive-in. A man later identified as 29-year-old Stephen Scott Wilson, address unknown, […]
Santa Rosa County Circuit Court Judge Darlene Dickey sentenced Michael Paul Newman, 43, of Arkansas, to life in prison for molesting an 8-year-old in Milton according to a State Attorney’s office press release. Newman was also designated as a Sexual Predator. Read the full article in the Aug. 22 issue of Navarre Press. Visit […]
A Pensacola business owner arrested Aug. 16 faces allegations of operating a human trafficking ring under the guise of Asian massage parlors in multiple states, including locations in Gulf Breeze and Pensacola. David C. Williams, 41, has been was arrested for using interstate facilities for purposes of racketeering, money laundering conspiracy and the harboring of […]
Five suspects were arrested Monday at a Navarre residence on allegations of more than 60 “smash and grab” style burglaries in Okaloosa County. Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson held a joint press conference with Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Fort Walton Police Department Tuesday afternoon to discuss the collaborative investigation. Read the full […]
Bill Eddins, State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit of Florida, announced that Friday, Aug. 16, Rocky Ali Beamon entered a guilty plea to First Degree Premeditated Murder for the Jan. 22, 2017, murder of Nicholas Anderson. Beamon and Anderson were both inmates at Santa Rosa Correctional Institution and shared a cell. Read the […]
Santa Rosa County’s planned expenditures for 2020 are about $9.08 million above the $91.7 million budget reality, according to data presented to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) June 11. That shortfall will be the topic of debate over the next several months as the county grapples to reach a balanced budget. Read the […]
The city of Milton announced June 5 a reward of up to $3,000 for the identity of those that vandalized the Riverwalk South. A reward is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator(s) after newly installed lighting was broken and wiring stolen. According to a press release, $3,500 worth of […]
A Virginia truck driver arrested in Santa Rosa County May 15 is charged with having sex with a 15-year-old in Pace after exchanging lewd messages with her on social media. Gerald Edward Filkins, 38, is charged with committing sex acts with a 15-year-old as well as using electronic communications to seduce the child. Read the […]
The Santa Rosa County Pre-trial Release Program resulted in an estimated net savings of $1,866,408 for the county in 2018, according to Santa Rosa County Clerk of Court and Comptroller Donald Spencer. The program allows those charged with a crime to continue to work outside jail while their case is being processed. This estimate raises […]
Most of Florida’s local law enforcement agencies aren’t equipping their patrol officers with body cameras and Santa Rosa Sheriff Bob Johnson is among them. Thus the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office is part of a shrinking majority. Read the full article in the April 25 issue of Navarre Press. Visit https://navarrepress.com/subscribe/ to view subscription options – […]
‘Bad boys’ be wary when the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office comes for you. The popular television show “COPS” will be featuring Santa Rosa County deputies in an episode airing this weekend. Read the full article in the April 25 issue of Navarre Press. Visit https://navarrepress.com/subscribe/ to view subscription options – or sign up to […]
Michael Lee DePine, 62, of Pensacola, pleaded guilty April 5 to the production and possession of child pornography. The guilty plea was announced by Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. Read the full article in the April 11 issue of Navarre Press. Visit https://navarrepress.com/subscribe/ to view subscription options – or […]
As the guest speaker for the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce breakfast Friday, Sheriff Bob Johnson gave staggering statistics of drug arrests which include opioids. “Heroin is making a strong return,” Johnson said. Read the full article in the April 4 issue of Navarre Press. Visit https://navarrepress.com/subscribe/ to view subscription options – or sign […]
A man arrested in Gulf Breeze on March 1 faces charges of drug possession and driving with an expired license. Douglas Leon Craig, 64, of Fort Walton Beach, was stopped by Gulf Breeze police while traveling west on Hwy 98 on the morning of March 1. Read the full article in the March 7 issue […]
A Milton woman has been arrested for orchestrating armed robbery of a man in Milton Feb. 9. According to a Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office report, Samantha Scarcella, 18, allegedly asked the victim to bring her money for narcotics and he was then shot by one of her accomplices. Read the full article in the […]
A Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office sergeant from Navarre has been arrested on multiple counts of child pornography after a search of his phone. Jeffrey Perkins was arrested Monday and charged with eight counts of child pornography following an investigation by Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). Read the full article in the Dec. 20 issue […]
A homicide investigation is underway after Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Deputies said Monday they believe a body found in a shallow grave in Jay is a woman that has been missing since May 28. Felecia Kuswandy, 38, was last seen alive at the same property along Highway 4 where the body was discovered last week according […]
Santa Rosa Sheriff’s deputies are seeking any information regarding a suspect in the Milton homicide of Tyler Lee Howell Sunday evening near Highway 87. According to sheriff’s office press releases, deputies have identified a black male through video that is a suspect in the case. There are three individuals suspected in the shooting, and it […]
A Milton man was found guilty Thursday of battery of law enforcement by having his dogs attack deputies, leading to one of the dogs being killed. A Santa Rosa County jury found David William Trappman, 27, guilty of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer […]
In the age of smart phones, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office is pushing for residents to embrace an app to connect them directly to their neighbors and law enforcement. The app is called Nextdoor, and Public Information Officer Sgt. Rich Aloy said it has crime-fighting capabilities. Read the full article in the Aug. 23 […]
Santa Rosa Sheriff’s deputies are actively investigating the theft of four vehicles in the Navarre and Gulf Breeze area. The vehicles were reported stolen last night. According to a press release, a tow truck was reported stolen from Tiger Point Paint and Body in Gulf Breeze. Three private vehicles were also reported stolen in the […]
In the most recent debate, District 4 Commissioner and candidate for re-election Rob Williamson was asked by candidate Dave Piech if he had any regrets in the nearly four years that he has served as county commissioner. The question seemed to be a gift to Rob – a chance for Rob to redeem himself. The answer […]
For the first time in Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office history, a drug dealer was charged and convicted for having a role in the death of someone who overdosed on heroin. Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley is calling the case a victory. Read the full article in the July 5 issue of Navarre Press. Click here to […]
In the past six months, crime in Santa Rosa County has dropped 23 percent according to Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Rich Aloy. Accompanying the dropping crime rate has been an increase in clearing of cases by the department, meaning the cases were resolved. Read the full article in the July 5 […]
At first glance, some of the annual crime statistics released last week by state officials make Santa Rosa appear to be trending worse than Florida overall and neighboring counties. What’s more, Santa Rosa’s violent crime rate rose by 10.4 percent, while it fell by double digits in both Escambia and Okaloosa. Read the full article […]
A registered sexual predator was arrested in Milton May 10 on multiple counts of possession of child pornography on his cell phone. Richard Andrew Jackson allegedly had 20 images of confirmed child pornography on his phone when it was seized by deputies, Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson said. Read the full article in the […]
Navarre Beach resident Larry Hoffman did not know what hit him. He went for his daily run on the morning of March 3 along White Sands Boulevard. Less than a block from his home, while Hoffman was jogging about a foot off the shoulder of the road, a sport utility (SUV) vehicle hit him from […]