MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla— A Texas family is mourning the loss of a husband and father after he drowned attempting to save a young boy in the Gulf of Mexico yesterday.

At 2:55 p.m. on Tuesday, March 16th, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a water rescue on the beach behind a home on Beach Drive in Miramar Beach.

Before deputies arrived, beachgoers pulled a 54-year-old man from the water after he attempted to save a young boy who was in distress. The boy was able to make it back to shore, but the man was found slumped over in the water.

The victim, positively identified as Timothy M. Browne, was eventually pulled from the water and CPR was initiated by a registered nurse who was on scene. First responders arrived within minutes and continued life-saving measures. He was transported to Sacred Heart where he was pronounced deceased.

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office extends our deepest sympathy to Mr. Browne’s family and friends.

MOSSY HEAD, FL — Firefighters knock down flames engulfing a mobile home in Mossy Head.

At 9:47 a.m. on Saturday, March 20, 2021, Waton County Fire Rescue, DeFuniak Springs Fire Department, Liberty Volunteer Fire Department and Walton County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a home on West Violet Lane following a 911 call. The caller stated he could see heavy smoke and flames coming from a nearby mobile home. First responders arrived on scene to find a single-wide mobile home fully engulfed in flames.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire within a little over thirty minutes, saving the fire from spreading to nearby homes.

Fortunately, the residents of the home made it out unharmed. However, one Walton County Fire Rescue firefighter was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. American Red Cross was contacted to assist the residents of the damaged home.

March 30, 2021

WALTON COUNTY, Fla— A DeFuniak Springs man is facing felony charges after parents discover inappropriate messages he sent to their daughter.

On January 17^th, deputies responded to a complaint from a parent who found her 15-year-old daughter had been communicating with a 32-year-old.

It was found the suspect, Justin Michael Slowik, had solicited the juvenile for inappropriate photos as well as sent the juvenile explicit photos of himself.

Deputies collected the juvenile’s cell phone for forensics. The victim told investigators the two met while she was riding her ATV and they connected via Facebook following the encounter. Slowik had knowledge the juvenile was 14-years-old at the time.

A search warrant was executed on Slowik’s phone, which later confirmed the allegations.

On March 27^th Slowik was arrested and charged with using a device to solicit a child, transmitting harmful material to a minor, and use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony.

He is being held on a $25,000 bond.

April 6, 2021

PRESS RELEASE

State Attorney, Ginger Bowden Madden announces that the Honorable Kelvin Wells sentenced Dylan Lee Mancill to Life in Prison as a Prison Releasee Reoffender for Second Degree Murder With a Weapon following a February Jury Trial in which he was found guilty.

The evidence established that on August 24, 2018, the victim an 85-year-old female was trying out a new electric wheelchair she had just obtained. The victim stopped at a neighbors’ residence to visit with the homeowner and view a chicken coup. While talking to the neighbor, Dylan Lee Mancill, the neighbors’ son began pacing behind the victim. At that point, the defendant picked up a hatchet that was located near the chicken coup and struck the victim in the back of the head. The defendant then fled the area before being apprehended by Walton County Sheriff’s Office approximately an hour and a half later.

Walton County Fire/EMS, Liberty Volunteer Fire Department, and Walton County Sheriff’s Office arrived on the scene within minutes of the attack to perform first aid. The victim was rushed to a hospital where doctors performed life-saving measures on the victim. However, the victim ultimately succumbed to her injuries in May 2019. The Medical Examiners’ Office ultimately determined that the victim died as a result of complications from the attack.

The investigation and arrest were conducted by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant State Attorney, Josh Mitchell prosecuted the case. For further information, please contact him at (850)892-8080.

READ THE ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE HERE.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

A collective bargaining negotiation meeting is scheduled to be held on April 12th at 10:30 am at the Walton County Sheriff’s Office north administration building in DeFuniak Springs.

The negotiating teams represent the Walton County Sheriff’s Office and the Professional Firefighters of Walton County.

The meeting will be held in the cypress room at 752 Triple G Road, Defuniak Springs.

April 12 , 2020

WALTON COUNTY, Fla— Art murals designed by local high school students are coming to a Walton County park.

The “Art in the Park” effort was initiated by Walton County Sheriff’s Office after performing a CPTED survey in the Driftwood Estates community and identifying a need to beautify the Driftwood Estates Park grounds from tagging and graffiti.

With permission from Walton County Public Works, Walton County Sheriff’s Office and multiple Driftwood Estates HOA’s reached out to South Walton High School students to design art with local landscapes in mind for the different walls and buildings within the park.

Approximately 75 students submitted their art for the project and the top 25 were chosen by judges. Six $500 and one $200 scholarships will be awarded to students whose art was picked as the finalists.

The timetable is as follows:

• April 10 – Wall prep/priming completed by API Coating.
• April 11 through 16 – Students outline murals on specified walls.
• April 17^th – Paint day
• April 24 – Paint day – Rain/Weather Back-up Date

Walton County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the following business for their generous donations to this project.

• Sherwin Williams
• API Coating
• Walmart
• Lowe’s
• The Cultural Art’s Alliance
• Walton County Health Improvement Program

The media are invited to attend the painting of these murals April 17^th at Driftwood Estates Park located at 275 East Shipwreck Road Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 starting at 9 am. The public is also invited to attend. We encourage anyone with an artistic eye to come out and assist in the painting of these beautiful murals!

April 12, 2021

WALTON COUNTY, Fla— A Freeport man has been arrested following a road rage incident that resulted in a shooting on Sunday, April 4^th.

On that afternoon, deputies responded to the intersection of U.S. Highway 331 and Highway 20 following multiple 911 calls regarding shots fired. Following the incident, the suspect fled the scene. One male patient was transported from the scene for his injuries.

Both parties in the altercation were quickly identified. After multiple days of follow-up investigation and gathering evidence it was revealed the shooter, Michael Joseph McClure, 43, of Freeport, knowingly used a deadly firearm during a road rage incident where the other party sustained gunshot wounds to the wrist and leg.

It was determined McClure blocked a lane of travel with his truck to engage in the altercation and fired his weapon at the victim as he turned to run away once the argument escalated. The intersection where the shooting occurred was crowded and McClure’s actions threatened the lives of not just the victim, but others traveling the area.

McClure was arrested Monday, April 12^th on active warrants for aggravated battery, discharging a firearm from a vehicle, and discharging a firearm in public.

He was given a $5,000 bond and has been bonded out at the time of this release.

April 13, 2021

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF STATE ATTORNEY GINGER BOWDEN MADDEN FIRST JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA

State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden announced Tuesday John Kyle Botelho entered a plea and was sentenced by the Honorable Kelvin Wells to 20 years in prison for Aggravated Battery with Great Bodily Harm and a Weapon, Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, and Resisting an Officer with Violence. A jury trial was scheduled to begin today, but Botelho elected to enter a plea minutes before opening statements.

On March 31, 2018, Botelho was walking in the area of East Mitchell Avenue west of Point Washington next to the Choctawhatchee Bay. The victim, who was trimming bushes in his front yard with garden shears, saw Botelho walking down the street and waved at him as he walked by. The man didn’t know Botelho and assumed he was just walking to a nearby park. The man went back to work trimming his bushes but suddenly noticed Botelho standing over him. Botelho then proceeded to punch the victim in the face repeatedly and a struggle ensued over the garden shears. During the fight, the garden shears broke with Botelho getting the part with the cutting blades. He then proceeded to repeatedly strike the victim over the head with the garden shears. Another man who was visiting a friend in the neighborhood heard the commotion and came to the victim’s aid. He was able to beat Botelho off the victim. While helping the victim to his house, the man saw Botelho strip all his clothes off and wade into the bay. The victim suffered a lost tooth and had multiple deep cuts to the top and sides of his head

Deputies from the Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) were dispatched to the scene and found Botelho in about chest-deep water in the bay. He refused all demands for him to return to shore, so a WCSO boat was sent to the scene. Deputies from the boat and from the shore entered the water to arrest Botelho. During his arrest, Botelho grabbed one deputy and attempted to drag him under the water. He also punched, kicked, and grabbed at other deputies. Only after multiple deputies were able to grab hold of him was he arrested and removed from the water.

The investigation and arrest were conducted by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant State Attorney Matthew Richardson prosecuted the case.

READ THE ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE HERE.

April 16, 2021

PRESS RELEASE OFFICE OF STATE ATTORNEY GINGER BOWDEN MADDEN FIRST JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA

State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden announced on April 15, 2021, Glenda Travaneisha Hamilton was found guilty of Aggravated Battery with Great Bodily Harm and with a Firearm by Discharging a Firearm and Criminal Mischief by a Walton County jury. Sentencing is currently scheduled for June 22, 2021. Hamilton is facing up to 30 years in prison and is subject to a 25 year minimum mandatory prison sentence under Florida’s 10/20/Life law.

On October 16, 2019, the two victims (a male and a female) went to visit a friend who lived on Howlin Road west of DeFuniak Springs. Unbeknown to the victims, the defendant was staying at this home. Hamilton blamed the male victim for damage to her girlfriend’s vehicle that occurred months earlier during a previous altercation. Hamilton demanded the male victim pay her money for the damage. When he refused, she pulled out the handgun and threatened both victims with it. They both again refused to pay. Hamilton then retrieved a dumbbell from the house and threw it into the female victim’s front windshield shattering it. This resulted in an altercation between the female victim and defendant. The male victim intervened in the altercation and was able to wrestle Hamilton’s handgun from her despite receiving multiple blows to his face that resulted injuries. The defendant then retrieved another handgun from a bystander and shot the male victim three times on the left side of his left leg as he was attempting to enter a vehicle to leave. She then stood over the male victim, pointed the gun at his head, and demanded that he apologize and beg for his life. Once he did, Hamilton left the scene. The male victim suffered a fractured femur and was left with multiple scars from his bullet wounds and a surgery to install a rod in his leg.

Once reported by the victims, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office responded both to the scene of the shooting and the hospital to investigate the incident and collect evidence. An interview was conducted by WCSO investigators and Hamilton admitted to damaging the female victim’s vehicle, getting into an altercation with the male victim over her gun, and then shooting him in the leg. Hamilton proceeded to record a series of SnapChat videos boasting about making the male victim bleed during their struggle for her gun and then making him beg for his life after she shot him.

The investigation and arrest was conducted by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant State Attorney Matthew Richardson prosecuted the case.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

A collective bargaining negotiation meeting is scheduled to be held on April 12th at 1 pm at the Walton County Sheriff’s Office north administration building in DeFuniak Springs.

The negotiating teams represent the Walton County Sheriff’s Office and the Professional Firefighters of Walton County.

The meeting will be held in the cypress room at 752 Triple G Road, Defuniak Springs.

April 19, 2021

WALTON COUNTY, Fla— A DeFuniak Springs man will face a Federal Judge on charges of meth distribution after a multi-agency investigation.

On April 14, 2021, a joint investigation including Walton County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit and personnel from the DEA Panama City Resident Office resulted in the arrest of David Foreman, 55, at his residence on Petunia Lane in DeFuniak Springs, Florida.

Foreman’s arrest is following a grand jury indictment that occurred earlier this month in the Northern District of Florida for multiple counts of methamphetamine distribution.

Based on evidence gathered during the investigation and additional evidence seized from Foreman at the time of his arrest, law enforcement obtained a federal search warrant for his residence and property.

A search revealed nearly one pound of crystal methamphetamine, a half-pound of marijuana, $3,811 in U.S. currency, and more than 20 firearms.

Foreman was subsequently arrested, transported to the Walton County Jail, and later turned over to the U.S. Marshal’s Service where he awaits trial in front of a Federal Judge.

May 11, 2021

WALTON COUNTY, Fla— A Jacksonville woman is arrested after attempting to bring contraband into a Walton County prison inside her underwear.

On May 8^th, deputies with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office were called to Walton Correctional Institution in regards to a suspect attempting to smuggle contraband into the facility.

Staff at Walton CI located 101 grams of heroin, six miniature cellphones, and 93 individual doses of Subutex located under the clothing of Gertrude Harper, 55, of Jacksonville, Florida.

Harper was arrested and interviewed by investigators. The narcotics and other items were brought for an inmate currently incarcerated in the prison.

Harper is charged with two felony counts of smuggling contraband into a prison including cell phones and a controlled substance, and one felony count of trafficking heroin. She was issued a $25,000 bond and is still in custody at the time of this release.

May 19, 2021

WALTON COUNTY, Fla— Early Wednesday morning a woman was rammed by a vehicle on State Road 285 in Mossy Head. Moments later, she was pulled from her car.

Elijah Jones, 18, and Megan Frazier, 23, have been identified as two carjacking suspects who led Walton County Sheriff’s Office and two other agencies in a pursuit across two counties this morning.

The pair was already driving a stolen gray Kia when they crashed into the victim’s Chevy Cruz at around 6:15 am. After the crash, a passer-by attempted to intervene and Jones brandished a gun, pulled the victim from the vehicle, and left the scene. The pair then drove to the area of Girl Scout Road and abandoned the sedan in a wooded area.

Before long a resident off Tiger Lily Lane called Walton County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center to report a Chevy Colorado stolen. The truck was towing a U-Haul trailer and deputies spotted the vehicle heading west on Highway 90.

Once Walton County Sheriff’s deputies initiated a traffic stop, Jones and Frazier fled south onto State Road 285 into Okaloosa County. There, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office took over the pursuit through Niceville down the Midbay Bridge and down Highway 98 into Fort Walton Beach.

Walton County Sheriff’s Office will be charging Jones and Frazier with the following:

Car Jacking State Highway 285

• Carjacking w/ a firearm (one count each)z
• Aggravated Assault with a firearm (one count Elijah Jones) for pointing gun at victim.
• Aggravated Battery with a deadly weapon (one count Elijah Jones) for ramming the Chevy Cruze.
• Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony (one count Elijah Jones)

Auto Theft E Tiger Lily

• Grand Theft Auto (1 count each) stealing the Chevy Colorado and trailer.
• Grand Theft Property
• Possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony (1 count Elijah Jones)

More charges are pending as it pertains to additional crime in our area.

May 24, 2021

WALTON COUNTY, Fla— On May 20^th Walton County Sheriff’s Office VICE Narcotics Unit and personnel from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement executed a search warrant at 186 Whip-Poor-Will Lane in Freeport.

During the search warrant John Hartley, 63, Jennifer Cotton, 46, and Joseph Byrd, 53, were located inside the home.

Byrd, who resides in Ponce de Leon, was found with four grams of methamphetamine in his wallet. Byrd was also found in possession of a syringe in his front pocket.

In Hartley’s bedroom investigators located a safe. Inside the safe was more than 60 grams of methamphetamine and two bags containing approximately 104.8 grams of marijuana. Numerous other items of drug paraphernalia were found throughout the room including a smoking pipe, a syringe, and one digital scale.

Within a bathroom located in Cotton’s room, she was observed attempting to flush methamphetamine down the toilet when law enforcement entered.

Jennifer Delores Cotton was charged with possession of meth with intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia. She received a $50,000 bond and bonded out Friday, May 21^st.

Joseph Everett Byrd was charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. He was issued a $5,000 bond and is still incarcerated at the time of this release.

Johnathan Earl Hartley is charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was issued a $100,000 bond and is still incarcerated at the time of this release.

June 4, 2021

Paxton, FL — A stabbing early Thursday morning has resulted in the arrest of a 21-year-old man after the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital.

At 4:45 a.m. on June 3, 2021, Walton County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Walton County Fire Rescue EMS crews were dispatched to a home on Sandy Ramp Road following a 911 call from the victim reporting he had just been stabbed. When deputies arrived on scene, they found the suspect, Jack Cranford IV, standing behind a large dirt pile wearing all black clothing and a face covering. Deputies detained Cranford who was found to be in possession of a black knife with blood on the blade and two 9mm bullets.

Deputies located the victim lying face down on a trampoline outside the residence with a large laceration in his lower back. The victim told authorities he awoke to Cranford screaming in his bedroom. The victim went to the suspect’s room and asked him to be quiet because other members of the household were sleeping. When the victim turned to leave the room, Cranford stabbed him in the back with a knife.

Jack Cranford IV was arrested for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and is currently awaiting trial in the Walton County Jail.

Santa Rosa Beach, FL— A carjacking suspect wanted after a multi-agency pursuit is now in custody.

Willie Robertson, 24, was wanted by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office and the Panama City Beach Police Department for fleeing and eluding following a pursuit June 2^nd. Robertson was being sought by Tennessee authorities in connection with an armed carjacking.

Robertson and Makiya London, 19, were spotted in a stolen vehicle in Bay County Wednesday afternoon. When Panama City Beach police initiated a traffic stop, the pair fled into Walton County. Spike trips were attempted on Highway 98 near Emerald Coast Middle School causing Robertson to crash on the shoulder of the eastbound lanes.

Law enforcement officers found London hiding in the woods that afternoon and she was taken into custody. London was charged with obstruction without violence and possession of a controlled substance as well as out-of-county warrants.

After hiding in the woods for nearly five days, Robertson was seen walking down Highway 98 near Serenoa Road in Santa Rosa Beach Monday morning. Deputies responded to the area and quickly detained Robertson who was severely dehydrated.

“Our citizens and deputies have remained vigilant in searching for this suspect,” says Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “We hope our community can rest a little easier knowing he is in custody.”

Robertson was transported to a local hospital where he is currently receiving medical treatment.

According to Robertson, he and London were the only two in the vehicle at the time of the pursuit. More information regarding charges is forthcoming.

Walton County Fire Rescue rushes to save a family’s home in Freeport after a fire breaks out with residents inside.

At 7:16 AM on Monday, June 14, 2021, first responders were dispatched to a home on Yankee Drive in Freeport following a 911 call reporting smoke and flames coming from a single-story home. The caller reported that a fire broke out in their garage that was attached to their home. Walton County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Walton County Fire Rescue firefighters arrived on scene to find flames coming from the garage and smoke billowing out of the attic of the home.

Firefighters battled the blaze for over thirty minutes before the fire was extinguished. Walton County Fire Rescue crews were able to keep the fire contained to the garage and the back bedroom of the home, however, the home sustained extensive smoke damage. Fortunately, all residents and family pets made it out of the home safely.

The fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical short in the clothes dryer and does not appear to be suspicious in nature. The American Red Cross was contacted to provide aid to the family.

William Gomes III

June 15, 2021

WALTON COUNTY, Fla— A DeFuniak Springs man is arrest on 200 counts of child pornography after a search warrant conducted by Walton County Sheriff’s Office SVU Unit.

The search warrant was executed Tuesday morning at 191 S Shore Line Circle in DeFuniak Springs.

The warrant was obtained after the WCSO Criminal Investigations Bureau Special Victims Unit received a tip that a resident of the home uploaded an image of child pornography to a social media platform.

Only one resident, William Gomes III, 45, was present at the time law enforcement arrived.

Gomes was interviewed and ultimately admitted to having possession of images and videos containing child pornography of infants to the age of 9.

A Digital Forensic Investigator evaluated devices on-scene and discovered several additional images and videos of child pornography.

The digital evidence was collected and evaluated resulting in 200 counts of child pornography.

Gomes was arrested and transported to the Walton County Jail.

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Homeland Security for their assistance in today’s arrest.