Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Firefighters rushed to a home in Ten Lake Estates after a neighbor reported seeing flames coming from a nearby residence late last night.
At 11:08 p.m. on Monday, April 4, 2022, Walton County firefighters were dispatched to a home on Ten Lakes Drive in DeFuniak Springs following a 911 call reporting a structure fire. The caller stated they could see smoke and flames coming from a home just down the street, and they were unsure if anyone was inside the residence.
Firefighters arrived on scene to find flames engulfing a single-story home. Walton County Fire Rescue firefighters quickly made entry into the home to search for anyone inside the structure. Fortunately, no one was home at the time of the fire. With assistance from DeFuniak Springs Fire Department, Argyle Volunteer Fire Department, and Liberty Volunteer Fire Department, Walton County Fire Rescue were able to extinguish the massive blaze in roughly thirty minutes.
At this time, it is unknown how the fire started. The State Fire Marshal’s Office responded to the scene to investigate the cause of the fire.
WALTON COUNTY, Fla— The owner of a Walton County construction company has been charged with fraud and money laundering and is now facing felony charges.
In December 2021, Walton County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a victim who was in the process of having a home built in Inlet Beach. The victim had been contacted by a local business who advised him he was being defrauded by his property developer.
The initial investigation found the victim hired Nicholas Henderson, 43, owner of Henderson Construction based out of Rosemary Beach in Walton County.
During the home-building process, investigators found Henderson Construction fraudulently altered invoices multiple times in 2021 and 2022 where he artificially inflated prices for products and services. In some cases, charging the victim for services and products not provided.
In the process, Henderson combined his illicit financial gains with legitimate business assets and by doing so illegally laundered money.
Henderson is accused of stealing and laundering in excess of $75,000 from the victim.
He is charged with organized fraud greater than $50,000, money laundering greater than $20,000 less than $100,000, two counts of forgery, and two counts of submitting a false invoice.
Henderson was arrested and released on March 9th with a $30,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on June 23rd. More information on this case can be found on the Walton County Clerk of Court’s website.
Walton County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging anyone who believes they may be a victim of Henderson Construction to contact the Criminal Investigations Bureau.
As we continue to see an uptick in financial crimes, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging residents to perform due diligence on those they hire, prioritize auditing all transactions and pay close attention to any electronic monetary transfers. In addition, it’s also a good practice to obtain itemized invoices and verify they are not duplicated.
This investigation was conducted by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau by an investigator specializing in white-collar crime and certified as a financial crime investigator.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.April 25, 2022
WALTON COUNTY, Fla—A DeFuniak Springs man has been arrested on firearms charges after a fight between neighbors led to shots fired over the weekend.
Before midnight Sunday, Walton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance call on Bellini Road. When they arrived, deputies spoke with the victim who fled back to his home after a physical altercation in the roadway with someone who lived nearby. During the fight, a firearm was displayed.
After the victim got back to his house, the suspect Joshua Branum, 32, started shouting at him and fired at least two shots. Deputies located one .45 caliber shell casing in the location witnesses provided.
The firearm was then located inside Branum’s cousin’s home after he admitted to hiding it under a cabinet.
Branum is a convicted felon and was arrested and charged with felon in possession and reckless discharge of a firearm. He is still incarcerated at the time of this release and has been issued a $10,000 bond.
A collective bargaining negotiation meeting is scheduled to be held Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. (CST) at the Walton County Sheriff’s Office north administration building in DeFuniak Springs.
The purpose of this meeting is collective bargaining between Walton County Sheriff’s Office and the Professional Firefighters of Walton County, Local 4413, International Association of Fire Fighters regarding a proposed employee pay increase and holiday pay.
The meeting will be held in the cypress room at 752 Triple G Road, Defuniak Springs, FL 32433.
The Walton County Sheriff adheres to the Americans with Disabilities Act and will make reasonable modifications for access to these meetings upon request. Requests may be made to the Human Resources Manager at 850-892-8111 x.3215 at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Just after midnight on Sunday Walton County Sheriff’s Office received a “Be on the Look Out” from Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office about an armed kidnapping that happened just across the county line in Destin.
According to several witnesses, the male suspect, David Chambers, 21, of Stone Mountain, Georgia pulled a handgun and held it to the chest of the victim, and made her get into his car.
Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office was able to track the suspect’s location using the victim’s phone and quickly relay that information to our deputies.
At some point during their drive from Okaloosa County to Walton County, the female victim tried to get the gun away from Chambers and the firearm was discharged into the dash. No one was injured.
At that time, the suspect pulled over near Taco Bell to check the vehicle after the gunshot. Deputies responded and quickly took the subject into custody and recovered the victim.
Walton County Sheriff’s Office charged the suspect with the stolen firearm and transported Chambers to the Walton County Jail. Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office will be charging Chambers for the kidnapping.
Walton County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Taylor Park
Tallahassee, Fla. – Walton County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Steven “Taylor” Park is among leaders from 33 Florida sheriffs’ offices who graduated this week from the Florida Sheriffs Association’s prestigious Commanders Academy.
The Commanders Academy is an exceptionally informative and educational experience that is vital for public safety leaders of the next generation. The academy has become recognized as the premier course of executive study for mid to upper-level criminal justice leaders.
The core curriculum focuses on leadership, ethics, discipline, and additional subject matter areas related to upper-level leadership in law enforcement. The remaining curriculum is adjusted according to emerging trends and issues that have an impact on our sheriffs and recent high-profile events. Each topic is threaded with problems that are unique to the culture of the Office of the Sheriff. The class learns from more than 50 presenters and panelists throughout the academy, many of who are current sheriffs. No other criminal justice program in the state provides this level of executive training.
“We are excited to offer heartfelt congratulations to the Class 11 graduates who, thanks to the training and presentations from our partners, are equipped to be even better leaders,” said FSA President and Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum. “As a revered course study program for criminal justice professionals, the Commanders Academy prepares attendees to be most effective in leading modern policing and protecting their communities.”
Steve Casey, executive director of the Florida Sheriffs Association, said, “Florida’s Sheriff’s offices are consistently looked to as the model of protecting, leading, and uniting. With the continuous training and innovative curriculum taught through the Commanders Academy, we can maintain this standard of excellence. We are proud to know our sheriffs and their commanders, deputies, and staff set the bar to the highest level.”
In addition to successfully completing this two-week training course, Commanders Academy Class 11 also raised $26,000 for the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches. This generous donation will help support the mission of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches in preventing delinquency and to develop lawful, resilient, and productive citizens.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden announces that Circuit Court Judge Kelvin Wells sentenced Timothy Lee Farris on May 17, 2022, to twenty-five years in Florida’s Department of Corrections, including a ten-year minimum mandatory sentence, for Burglary of a Dwelling while Armed with a Firearm, and five years in Florida’s Department of Corrections concurrent for Possession of Methamphetamine. A Walton County jury found Farris guilty of these charges on March 10, 2022.
The charges arose from an incident that occurred on December 12, 2020, at a house on Whip Poor Will Lane in Walton County. The victim was in his yard working on a vehicle when Farris threatened the victim from the neighbor’s property. Farris was acting erratic and gave the victim cause for concern, so the victim drew a pistol and told Farris to leave the property. Farris left, but returned with a rifle, and fired several rounds. The victim retreated into his home and called 911. Farris broke out the glass in the victim’s back door with the rifle and aimed it through the metal door. A male came and got Farris from the victim’s home, and they left in a truck. When law enforcement stopped the truck, Farris fled from the passenger seat and took off running into the woods, but he was ultimately apprehended. Law enforcement found the rifle in the bed of the truck that Farris fled from, and they found a bag of methamphetamine and a syringe on Farris.
Farris had a prior felony conviction for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and received a prison sentence, as well as Fleeing and Attempting to Elude Law Enforcement, Tampering with evidence, and numerous prior misdemeanor charges.
The investigation and arrest were conducted by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant State Attorney Angela Liles prosecuted this case at Sentencing.
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State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden announces that the Honorable Kelvin Wells sentenced Douglas Dunnigan III, on May 17, 2022, to seven years in Florida’s Department of Corrections, including a three-year minimum mandatory sentence, for Trafficking in Heroin, and five years in Florida’s Department of Corrections concurrent for Possession of Methamphetamine. Dunnigan entered a plea to these charges on January 13, 2022.
The charges arose from an incident that occurred on November 11, 2020, when officers with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office were at a property arresting suspects on outstanding warrants. Dunnigan was seen slipping out a trap door of a shed and running through the woods. Dunnigan threw a bag of narcotics to the ground and had a large amount of cash and methamphetamine on his person. The drugs that Dunnigan threw down were a Trafficking quantity of Heroin.
Dunnigan’s prior criminal history includes Burglary of a Dwelling, Grand Thefts, Resisting an Officer with Violence, Battery on Law Enforcement, and multiple misdemeanors.
The investigation and arrest were conducted by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant State Attorney Angela Liles prosecuted this case at Sentencing.
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State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden announces that on May 17, 2022, Jerry L. Dupree was sentenced to seven years in Florida’s Department of Corrections, three years of which are a minimum mandatory sentence, for Trafficking in Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Dupree was previously found guilty by a jury on March 8, 2022.
The charges arose from an incident that occurred on February 23, 2021, when law enforcement from Holmes County noticed Dupree was driving his motorcycle without a license plate. The officer activated his emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop, but Dupree accelerated and initiated a high-speed chase into Walton County. Dupree abandoned his motorcycle and fled into the woods where he was ultimately captured and detained. Dupree was found to be in possession of eighteen grams of Methamphetamine, a scale, several small plastic baggies, and a cut straw.
The investigation and arrest were conducted by officers from the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant State Attorney Salvador Gomez prosecuted the case.
For further information, please contact him at (850)892-8080.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.A registered sex offender was arrested yesterday in DeFuniak Springs and charged with four counts of possession of child pornography following an investigation by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit.
On March 23, 2022, The Walton County Sheriff’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit received a tip from The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding four files of potential child pornography being stored on an online storage platform.
A search warrant was executed on a residence on South 19th Street in DeFuniak Springs on May 10, 2022. During the search of the residence, the suspect was identified as registered sex offender Eric Michael Soles, 43, who admitted to being sexually attracted to female children between the ages of 10 and 12. Numerous electronic devices were seized and brought to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office for forensic processing.
The Cyber Crimes Unit found Soles to be in possession of sexually explicit videos involving children under the age of 13.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Eric Soles was arrested by Walton County Sheriff’s Office investigators on May 23, 2022. He was subsequently charged with four counts of possession of child pornography. He is being held at the Walton County Jail without bond.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank DeFuniak Springs Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations for their assistance with this investigation.
WALTON COUNTY, Fla— Wee Care Park has a new splash of color thanks to Walton High School Art Students.
The “Art in the Park” initiative, started by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office to help beautify parks across the county, has made its way to DeFuniak Springs.
Two students, Hiromi Flores and Kaylie Finch were selected to have their artwork featured as murals at the park and received $500 scholarships from CCB Community Bank and Naylors Realty.
“I was looking at older pictures of DeFuniak Springs and wanted to paint something people could relate to,” said Finch. Her mural is a depiction of the old Downtown DeFuniak Springs, specifically the drug store. “I’m so glad folks who have come down here have felt a connection to it.”
“I wanted to represent what this place means to me,” said Flores, who moved to DeFuniak Springs with her mother, and recalls being inspired by the spirit of the town. “I chose the library because I moved from a place that didn’t have anything like that. I remember my first visit; I went inside; it was morning and new light was coming in – it was so magical. I’ll never forget that.”
“I chose the library because I moved from a place that didn’t have anything like that," said Flores, who was inspired by DeFuniak Springs' spirit. "I remember my first visit; I went inside; it was morning and new light was coming in – it was so magical. I’ll never forget that.” pic.twitter.com/H4FiXDxQ7w
The girl’s pieces were selected out of more than 60 submissions narrowed down by school administration and Walton County Commissioner Mike Barker.
Walton High Art Teacher Annamiche Dotson garnered student interest after being approached by Walton County Sheriff’s Office Crime Prevention Sergeant Wendel about spreading “Art in the Park” to Wee Care Park.
The first brush stroke took form in April of 2021 when residents sought a way to improve the park’s appearance in the Driftwood Estates community in Santa Rosa Beach. Sergeant Wendel inquired with businesses and community leaders to participate, and South Walton High School Students became the first beneficiaries of the effort.
“This has been a labor of love and it’s so rewarding to see the look on the kid’s faces when their artwork comes to life,” said Wendel.
Walton County Sheriff’s Office would like to say a special thank you to Lowes and Sherwin Williams for your continued support of our “Art in the Park” effort and congratulations to the artists.
WALTON COUNTY, Fla— De-escalation is a critical and life-saving skill for law enforcement.
Deputies charged with the difficult and often dangerous task of resolving tense or volatile situations can use de-escalation to reduce conflict before it develops.
Walton County Sheriff’s Office has long been teaching the practice. Now, WCSO will be fully funded for its efforts after being awarded a federal grant.
Walton County Sheriff’s Office was the first in the state of Florida to implement virtual reality/augmented reality technology for de-escalation training. For this reason, the agency was able to purchase VR/AR equipment through Apex at a significantly discounted rate in May of this year.
In July, the tech will be rolled out agency-wide and the grant, funded in October of 2021, will be retroactive for all training done by the agency dating back from September 2021 through August of 2023.
The WCSO training section applied for the Regional De-escalation Training Grant through the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) in July 2021 to build and maintain our deputies’ de-escalation proficiency.
The grant provides $188k to support de-escalation, implicit bias, and duty to intervene training efforts. This includes up to $42k in overtime for deputies participating in training programs and support for training officers attending nationally certified train-the-trainer programs.
In addition to the virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) technology, the grant will also fund use of force data analysis, after-action reviews, and the development of internal marketing/promotional materials, policies, and procedures.
“Our goal is to encourage a de-escalation mindset,” said Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “This will take organization change to create a culture of de-escalation within an agency in hopes of empowering our deputies with the tools they need to do their job even more effectively.”
Training staff from the National De-Escalation Training Center – Regional Training Center at Fort Hays State University is providing the train-the-trainer instruction for WCSO using the VR/AR equipment beginning this summer.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.June 17, 2022
WALTON COUNTY, Fla— Investigators from Walton County Sheriff’s Office are currently on scene of a robbery at a gas station in Miramar Beach.
Deputies responded to the Circle K located at 10685 U.S. Highway 98 after a 911 call at 5:20 am in reference to a subject holding the store clerk at gunpoint.
After taking an undisclosed amount of cash the subject fled the scene on foot heading eastbound towards a nearby plaza.
The subject is described as a white male, wearing a blue mask over his face, a black Cleveland baseball hat with an old logo, a blue long-sleeve button-down shirt, black pants, and black and white tennis shoes.
This investigation is still ongoing, and more information will be released when it’s available.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Walton County Sheriff’s Office at (850)-892-8111 or you remain anonymous by calling Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers at (850)-863-TIPS.
WALTON COUNTY, Fla— A suspect in an early morning robbery in Miramar Beach is in custody after opening fire during a pursuit with deputies that ended on Interstate 10.
At 5:20 am Friday, a white male entered the Circle K on Poinciana Boulevard in Miramar Beach with a gun and left with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Throughout the day, a suspect was developed.
Just after midnight Saturday, Walton County Sheriff’s Office attempted a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle near Sue Lane and County Highway 183 South.
The suspect immediately opened fire. Units continued to pursue the car eastbound into Holmes County on Highway 90 and then south onto State Highway 81 where the suspect turned westbound onto I-10.
Once the pursuit entered Interstate 10, the suspect repeatedly threw money out of the window and pointed a firearm at deputies and troopers.
DeFuniak Springs Police Department was able to spike the vehicle at the 85-mile marker, but the suspect continued hitting speeds more than 100 miles per hour. At this point, Florida Highway Patrol joined the pursuit. Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office set up spikes at the 56-mile marker where they successfully spiked the vehicle for a second time.
The car came to a stop at mile marker 53 where the suspect exited shooting. Responding agencies returned fire, injuring the suspect. He was transported to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.
While several patrol vehicles were hit with gunfire, no deputies or troopers were injured. At least six patrol vehicles were damaged during the pursuit.
As of 5 am Saturday, Walton County Sheriff’s Office along with Florida Highway Patrol, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are currently on scene at mile marker 53, westbound on I-10.
FDLE will be investigating the deputy-involved shooting portion of the incident.
Westbound lanes of Interstate 10 are still shut down at this time. Drivers are asked to use the Crestview exit to Highway 90 as an alternate route until the investigation is completed.
WALTON COUNTY, Fla— The plot has thickened in a case originally thought to be a robbery at a Circle K in Miramar Beach.
The gas station clerk Mary Yard, 30, of DeFuniak Springs has been arrested by Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and charged with fleeing and eluding and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
Charges stem from her involvement in a multi-county multi-agency pursuit where she drove Dallas Francis, 33, as he repeatedly shot at deputies and later troopers following an attempted traffic stop.
Yard was originally thought to be the victim of the Friday morning robbery. Walton County Sheriff’s Office investigators had been searching for Francis who was suspected of stealing more than $34,000 from the Circle K at around 5:20 am.
Francis has a lengthy criminal history including prior felony charges of aggravated robbery out of Ohio.
It was less than 24 hours later he and Yard led deputies through three counties driving more than 60 miles at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour before being stopped on Interstate 10 at mile marker 53. It was there he opened fire on Florida Highway Patrol troopers and Okaloosa and Walton County deputies.
The shooting shut down I-10 for several hours as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigated. Yard was eventually booked into the Okaloosa County Jail and Francis is being treated at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.
Additional charges are pending out of Walton County for both Yard and Francis.
We’d like to thank all agencies involved in helping bring two dangerous criminals into custody.
WImage may be NSFW. Clik here to view.alton County Fire Rescue crews knocked down a fire in the attic of a home following a lightning strike this afternoon.
At 3:07 p.m. today, Walton County Fire Rescue and Walton County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a home on Mango Lane in the Hammock Bay community in Freeport following a 911 call reporting a house fire. The caller stated they heard a “pop,” saw a flash, and then their house started filling with smoke.
Firefighters arrived on scene and quickly entered the residence to find flames coming from the attic. Walton County Fire Rescue had the fire out in less than ten minutes, keeping the flames contained to the attic, limiting damage to the home.
Fortunately, everyone made it out of the smoke-filled house safely before first responders arrived.
WALTON COUNTY, Fla— A suspect who revealed a firearm in his waistband during a robbery late Monday night is quickly apprehended and arrested.
Walton County Sheriff’s Office was called to Mystic Cobalt Street in Watercolor around 11:30 pm following the report of an armed robbery.
The two victims, 16 years of age, told deputies they were walking on the beach around 11 pm when they were approached by a tall black male with short dreadlocks wearing black gym shorts and a black t-shirt.
The victims said the subject showed them a firearm tucked into his waistband before snatching the victim’s belongings from her hands and running off.
Through social media and open-source investigative techniques, investigators were able to identify a person of interest, Uriah Alam Maurise Frith, 17, of Freeport, who stands approximately 6’ 4” and 275lbs.
The suspect’s vehicle was located near the intersection of County Road 283 S and 30A where investigators conducted a traffic stop.
Under Frith’s seat was a black handgun, which Frith immediately admitted was a BB Gun. Firth also admitted to taking the victim’s $70.00 which was in his pocket.
Frith was arrested for robbery with a firearm. He was transported and booked into the Walton County Jail.
WALTON COUNTY, Fla— A 16-year-old is charged with aggravated assault following a shooting incident with a BB Gun in Miramar Beach.
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Granados “Omar” Sandoval
Early in the morning Thursday, Walton County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call from the victim who was located at an emergency room in Destin.
With the assistance of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect vehicle was located at the Circle K on Scenic Gulf Drive.
After speaking to the victim, it was discovered several shots had been fired into the windshield of their vehicle on Forest Shore Drive. The suspect, identified as Omar Sandoval, then followed the victim shooting at their car several times along Highway 98. Once the victim reached Destin ER and ran inside, Sandoval shot out the back window of the vehicle.
Sandoval has been arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault, shooting a deadly missile, and one count of aggravated assault domestic violence. He was transported and booked into the Walton County Jail.
WALTON COUNTY, Fla— Six pounds of meth is seized after Walton County Sheriff’s Office serves three search warrants in just six days leading to the arrest of seven people.
The first was executed on June 30th at 186 Foxmeyer Drive in Santa Rosa Beach.
Anthony Avizius, 56, was arrested for possession of fentanyl, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Avizius was out on probation on charges stemming from Operation Mr. Clean conducted by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office in November 2020. Avizius was given a $50,000 bond and is still incarcerated at the time of this release.
After a multi-month investigation, a search warrant was conducted at 76 Windchime Way in Freeport on July 1st.
Six pounds of methamphetamine was located along with six pounds of marijuana, fentanyl tablets, two pistols, and a rifle. More than $21,000 in U.S. Currency was also found. Donald Edward Robbins Jr., 41, was arrested for trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of a weapon and ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute. Robbins was out on bond for trafficking meth in Covington County, Alabama. He was released the following day on a $50,000 bond.
Five people were arrested following a search warrant on July 5th at 130 Sunset Lane in Freeport.
During the search, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia were found in multiple bedrooms in the home.
Barbara Jean Sullivan, 62, of Freeport was charged with possession of fentanyl, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bobbi Wagstaff, 27, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, maintaining a nuisance dwelling, possession of marijuana less than 20 grams, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Kenneth Dewayne Wilson, 41, of DeFuniak Springs is charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Megan Nicole Bridges, 26, of Freeport, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Johnny Ray Smith, 26, of Freeport was arrested on a warrant for failure to appear.
All five are still incarcerated at the time of this release.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.July 15, 2022
WALTON COUNTY, Fla— Human remains located inside Point Washington State Forest are believed to be that of 37-year-old Tara Deaton.
Dagan Blake Boring, 24, of Santa Rosa Beach has been arrested and charged with her murder.
Deaton was reported missing out of Kentucky in June just two weeks after her vehicle, a gray Lexus coupe, was involved in a hit-and-run on County Highway 30a.
The following day, May 24th, the vehicle was found in a wooded area about two miles from the crash. The car was impounded and brought to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office where a search warrant revealed blood in the trunk.
Investigators attempted to locate Deaton and interviewed numerous family and friends. After an exhaustive search, investigators were led to Boring, who is believed to have been in a relationship with Deaton at the time of her disappearance.
Boring was located at a convenience store in Fort Walton Beach on July 14th and later led investigators to the location of Deaton’s body inside Point Washington State Forest.
He was arrested for homicide and booked into the Walton County Jail where he received no bond at first appearance.
Walton County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the following agencies who assisted in this investigation; The District 1 Medical Examiner’s Office, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Kentucky State Police, and the State Attorney’s Office.
In addition, we’d like to thank the friends and family of Tara Deaton who were critical to the resolution of this case.
“This is not the ending we hoped for,” said Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “But, with a successful prosecution we hope to bring some closure to Tara’s loved ones.”
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.WALTON COUNTY, FLA – There are no wailing sirens or bright lights, but when Paramedic Ashley Dumont arrives for a home visit, she brings a shining smile with her med bag and stethoscope.
Walton County Fire Rescue is one of the first in the state to introduce a Community Paramedicine Program. The fire-rescue organization serves residents and visitors north of the Choctawhatchee Bay in Walton County.
Community Paramedics are trained, licensed paramedics who respond to certain pre-determined EMS calls for service to visit with patients and provide care.
Until this month, Dumont acted as the sole community paramedic before the program expanded adding another in Lindsey Timpano.
But a prescription for additional changes has been filled as the agency looks to change the response to 911 calls for medical services.
The Community Paramedicine Program provides a continuity of care for those seeking medical attention who previously relied on the emergency room for primary medical care. They would simply call 911 and get transported to a local hospital.
“A lot of people believe calling 911 is their only option,” said Timpano, who’s been with Walton County Fire Rescue since September of 2020. “With the Community Paramedicine Program, we are giving them another avenue to receive care and build better relationships with those patients – it’s more one-on-one.”
Between her and Dumont, the pair have more than 15 years of experience as paramedics in addition to their time serving as EMTs. The only difference is – now – they don’t arrive for house calls in an ambulance.
Dumont and Timpano can check vitals, catheters, and make fall risk recommendations. Often, the two refer patients who do not need transport to our new Telehealth service for their care needs.
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“We have the ability to bring a doctor on an iPad into your home,” said Dumont.
The marker for success has been the reduced number of times these patients need to call 911. Through education and scheduled visits, the customer is receiving in-home care they had previously relied on in the ER.
“We are building rapport and seeing real change,” said Timpano. “Whether that’s locating medical equipment or giving the patients access to resources they didn’t know we’re out there – we are able to help them before they reach a point where they feel the need to call 911.”
CHANGES TO 911 RESPONSE – WHAT TO EXPECT
Previous to new changes, which are set to begin August 1st, the Community Paramedics relied solely on referrals from those working an ambulance on the road and doctors.
“If EMTs or Paramedics responding to a call by ambulance felt that patient would benefit from the community paramedicine program, they would request one go out and make a visit,” said Tim Turner, Assistant Fire Chief and EMS Chief for Walton County Fire Rescue. “Many times, when a person calls 911 the patient involved is not necessarily in need of ambulance transport but does need medical care.”
Now when residents or visitors call 911 for medical services, the information will be triaged by Walton County Sheriff’s Office communications professionals who will use a Tactical Dispatch Plan to determine whether a community paramedic should respond. The result is dispatching a community paramedic in place of an ambulance.
That can mean that an ambulance, rather than being tied up in transporting someone to a medical facility for a relatively minor reason, can remain available for more critical emergencies.
These changes will take effect at 8 am on August 1st, 2022.
“Before we implemented this program, it was an endless loop of patients not getting the true help they needed,” said Turner. “While we strive to serve the needs of all callers, some of these responses induce a large cost for patients who are transported and unintentionally tie up an ambulance.”
With the recent closure of Healthmark’s ER – the impact on the 911 system is even greater.
The announcement of the ER shutdown was accompanied by expressions of concern from Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson, who told the Walton County Board of County Commissioners at the time the closure “will greatly affect transport times and the availability of ambulance services in the county.”
To mitigate some of the impacts, a seventh ambulance was added to the Walton County Fire Rescue fleet. However, Walton County Fire Rescue saw a steep incline in patient refusals and transport times – specifically in DeFuniak Springs – the area most at risk due to the Healthmark closure.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.And the increase in patient refusals doesn’t necessarily mean the absence of the need for medical attention. In some cases, patients don’t have the means to get home from a hospital 45 minutes away.
“Not only did they have to figure out a way to get back home, but they had to endure the medical bills that follow,” said Turner. “Our program brings healthcare to people who would otherwise not have access to it without a hospital in our service area.”
BRINGING HEALTHCARE BACK HOME
As Dumont shares a laugh with a patient during a home visit the trust and bond between the two are evident in their interaction. Dumont carefully applies the blood pressure sleeve while they exchange stories about life, family, and health – the reason for the visit.
“It’s different than working on the road,” said Dumont, who started her career in 2015 before Walton County Fire Rescue joined Walton County Sheriff’s Office. “You get to spend time with your patients, it’s more personal.”
In one instance, Dumont recalls helping a family with a home health evaluation for placement into a home. The patient had advanced Alzheimer’s and it was not safe for her loved ones to drive her to a hospital to be evaluated. So, they did what a lot so often do – they called 911.
The community paramedicine program made it so that the family didn’t have to leave the comfort of their own home. They were able to get the evaluation completed and the patient was admitted to a home specializing in her condition.
“I want them to trust they are going to receive quality care,” said Dumont. “Whether that’s connecting them to a doctor or educating them on how to better manage their insulin.”
The care they need and deserve – with a smile.
Walton County Fire Rescue is a CAAS Accredited EMS Service providing pre-hospital care to residents and visitors of Walton County north of the Choctawhatchee Bay. WCFR joined the Walton County Sheriff’s Office in April of 2017.
Firefighters rushed to a home in Ten Lake Estates after a neighbor reported seeing flames coming from a nearby residence late last night.
Image may be NSFW.
The post FIREFIGHTERS KNOCK DOWN FIRE ENGULFING A HOME IN DEFUNIAK SPRINGS first appeared on Walton County Sheriff's Office, FL.
