Contact: Capt. Chris Buchanan Telephone: 850-227-1115 Email: cbuchanan@gcso.fl.gov MEDIA RELEASE April 21, 2014 GCSO LAW ENFORCEMENT SUMMARY APRIL 14, 2014 APRIL 20, 2014 On Monday, April 14 th, the Gulf County Sheriff s Office (GCSO) received a complaint from the 1200 block of Country Club Road in Simmons Bayou. Deputy J. Brock responded to the call. The victim reported their mailbox and trashcan was run over by a vehicle. On April 14 th, Deputy G. Desrosier responded to the 3000 block of State Road 71 North in Wewahitchka. The GCSO received a 911 call regarding the violation of an injunction. The case continues to be investigated. On April 14 th, Deputy J. Brock took a report regarding the burglary of an automobile in the 7100 block of Cape San Blas Road. The victim reported the offense was discovered at approximately 5:00 pm on April 13 th. A wallet was stolen from within the vehicle which contained approximately $60 in cash and other personal items. The vehicle was not locked. On April 14 th, the GCSO received a complaint regarding criminal mischief at Beacon Hill Park. Deputy J. Brock responded to the complaint. The one of the restroom in the park had graffiti throughout it. After the scene was processed, the bathrooms were repainted by county staff. On April 14 th, the GCSO returned Taylor M. Green to the Gadsden Correctional Facility. The GCSO was ordered to transport Green for court proceedings in Gulf County. On April 14 th, Sgt. J. Williams conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on US Highway 98 and Madison Avenue in Oak Grove for a traffic violation. As the vehicle stopped Sgt. Williams observed the driver exit the vehicle and walk around to the passenger side. The driver, Melvin K. Brown (49), asked that he not be taken to jail because he didn t have a driver s license. Drug paraphernalia was discovered on the ground where Brown stood. He was arrested and transported to the Gulf County Detention Facility (GCDF). Brown was charged with Driving While License Suspended or Revoked and Possession of Drug Page 1 of 5
Paraphernalia. While on the traffic stop a vehicle driven by Jerome D. Russ (35) pulled up on the scene. Sgt. Williams had knowledge that Russ did not have driver s license and he too was arrested and transported to the GCDF. Russ was charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle without a License. Brown was first appeared and given a $750 bond. Russ was first appeared and released on a $250 bond. On April 14 th, Lawrence E. Carpenter (21) was served at the GCDF with a warrant for Violation of Probation. Carpenter was arrested in Polk County, Florida, on the Gulf County charge and transported to the GCDF. He was on probation for two counts of Burglary and one count of Criminal Mischief. Carpenter remains in custody. On April 14 th, the GCSO received a 911 call regarding criminal mischief in the 3000 block of State Road 71 North. The complainant reported that her ex-boyfriend vandalized her vehicle. Sgt. J. Murnan investigated the call and has forwarded the case to the Office of State Attorney. On Tuesday, April 15 th, Deputy J. Brock took a report regarding credit card fraud. The victim in the case reported an unauthorized transaction on his credit card from an online company. The transaction in the amount of approximately $150 was credited to the victim s account in the case and it was discovered the merchandise was shipped to a location in the state of Alabama. The GCSO continues to investigate. On April 15, Deputy J. Brock arrested Shirley E. Larry (41) after she was stopped in her vehicle on Avenue A near North Park Avenue in Port St. Joe. Larry was wanted by the Port St. Joe Police Department for the Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card (four counts) and by the Calhoun County Sheriff s Office for Failure to Appear. She was also operating a vehicle on a suspended license. She was transported to the GCDF where she was booked in on the warrants and charged with Driving While License Suspended, or Revoked. Larry was first appeared and released on a $10,500 bond. On April 15 th, the GCSO received a complaint regarding a hit and run with property damage at the T.L. James Ball Park in Wewahitchka. Deputy G. Desrosier responded to the call. A vehicle traveling on the Old Dairy Farm Road left the road way and damaged approximately $500 in fencing. The vehicle involved should have damage to the front driver side and a broken head light. Anyone with information is asked to call the GCSO. On April 15 th, Jamie M. Whitfield (40) turned himself over to Deputy K. Starnes at the GCDF. Whitfield had an active Writ of Bodily Attachment for Child Support. He was booked into the GCDF and released on $500 purge. On Wednesday, April 16 th, Melissa A. Felder (45) turned herself in at the GCDF. Deputy S. Ferrell executed a Arrest Order on Felder to serve 30 days in jail for Driving While License Suspended or Revoked, or pay $423. Felder bonded out on the order. Page 2 of 5
On April 16 th, Deputy P. Williams arrested Vertis R. Hysmith (31) in the 2200 block of State Road 71 in Wewahitchka. Hysmith was wanted on warrants from Liberty County. He was transported to the GCDF. On April 16 th, the GCSO traveled to the Bay County Jail to transport Tammy J. Melton (45). The GCSO held an active warrant for Violation of Probation. Melton was on probation for Driving While License Suspended or Revoked. She was transported to the GCDF where she remains in custody. On April 16 th, Deputy P. Williams arrested Eric A. Sims (26) in the area of West Reid Avenue and Lake Alice Park Drive in Wewahitchka. Sims was wanted for Failure to Appear on Bail for Possession of Less than Twenty Grams of Marijuana and Driving While License Suspended or Revoked. He was transported to the GCDF where he remains in custody. On April 16 th, Deputy J. Oquendo responded to the 1800 block of Cobia Avenue in Highland View. The GCSO received a 911 call regarding a burglary at the location. Deputy Oquendo reported that an RV was burglarized between the summer of 2013 and the date of the report. Approximately $1,000 worth of rods and reels were stolen. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call the GCSO. On Thursday, April 17 th, the GCSO received a complaint regarding forgery. Deputy S. Ferrell responded to the 100 block of State Road 71 North in Wewahitchka and took the report. The complainant discovered several checks written on his account to a local business in Wewahitchka. Investigator L. Dickey continues to investigate the case. On April 17 th, the GCSO traveled to the Bay County Jail to transport Frederick L. Crutchfield, III, (23) to the GCDF. Crutchfield was held in the Bay County Jail on a warrant in Gulf County for Violation of Probation on his original charge of the Sale of Methamphetamine. Crutchfield remains in custody on a $3,000 bond. On Friday, April 18 th, Sgt. R Burkett and Deputy M. Layfield witnessed a traffic crash in the 500 block of Monument Avenue in Port St. Joe. Sgt. Burkett and Deputy Layfield assisted the Port St. Joe Police Department with the scene. On April 18 th, David L. Watson (57) was served a warrant for Violation of Probation at the GCDF by Deputy J. Brock. Watson was transported from the Marion County Jail in Ocala, FL to the GCDF where he remains in custody. On April 18 th, Deputy J. Brock responded to the 200 block of Sailfish Street in Highland View. The GCSO received a complaint regarding an unknown disturbance at the location. When Deputy Brock arrived he determined the call to be a domestic battery. After conducting an investigation, Tit V. Nguyen (64) was arrested for Domestic Battery and Violation of Pre-Trial Release. He was transported to the GCDF where he was first appeared on the following day and released on his own recognizance. Page 3 of 5
On April 18 th, K-9 Deputy J. Oquendo stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation on US Highway 98 in Port St. Joe. After contacting the driver, Susan L. Mills (50), regarding the violation consent to search the vehicle was obtained. Deputy Oquendo found Mills to be in possession of cocaine and items to ingest the drug. Mills was arrested and charged with Possession of Cocaine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was transported to the GCDF. On April 18 th, K-9 Deputy J. Oquendo stopped a vehicle on US Highway 98 near Avenue A in Port St. Joe. When contact was made with the driver, Deputy Oquendo could smell the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. The driver, Jonathan D. Williams (22), consented to a search of the vehicle and told Deputy Oquendo he had smoked a joint in the vehicle earlier. As a result of the search, Deputy Oquendo located part of a marijuana cigarette that had been smoked and rolling papers. A notice to appear was issued to Williams to appear in court to answer to the charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. On Saturday, April 19 th, the GCSO received a complaint of a burglary in the 100 block of Thomas Circle in Wewahitchka. Deputy G. Desrosier responded to the call. The complainant discovered the door to the residence was entered and called the GCSO. No items were believed to be taken from the residence. The case is being investigated as a criminal trespass. On April 19 th, Sgt. J. Murnan responded to the 100 block of April Lane in Stone Mill Creek. Sgt. Murnan investigated the complaint of an attempted burglary of a shed. The victim discovered pry marks on a shed door and believed someone attempted to enter the building. The offense was believed to have occurred between April 14 th and April 19 th. On Sunday, April 20 th, Sgt. Murnan arrested Daniel E Fisher (19). The GCSO received a call regarding a domestic disturbance in the 900 block of State Road 71 North, in Wewahitchka. As a result of the investigation, Fisher was arrested and charged with Violation of Probation, Resisting a Law Enforcement Officer without Violence, Resisting a Law Enforcement Officer with Violence, and Criminal Mischief. He was transported to the GCDF where he was later first appeared and released on a $2,500 bond. On April 20 th, the GCSO received a 911 call regarding a domestic disturbance in the 8100 block of Americus Avenue on St. Joe Beach. Sgt. J. Williams responded to the call. At the conclusion of the investigation, Joseph W. Wawruck (27) was arrested and charged with Domestic Battery. He was transported to the GCDF. Wawruck was later first appeared and conditionally released. In the previous law enforcement summary which included events for April 8 th, an arrest from the result of a domestic violence call was overlooked. The GCSO received a 911 call from the 100 block of Dawkins Street in Honeyville. Deputy P. Williams responded to the call and after conducting an investigation arrested Harold C. Lester (42). Lester was charged with Domestic Battery and transported to the GCDF. He was first appeared and conditionally released. Page 4 of 5
From April 14 th through April 20 th the Communications Division at the GCSO logged a total of 42 calls for the Port St. Joe Police Department, 27 calls for EMS, 18 calls for other departments/agencies and 10 calls for Gulf County Animal Control. From April 14 th through April 20 th the GCSO logged the following department activity: Security/Zone Checks, 155; Traffic Stop, 39; Civil Paper Service, 33; Information, 9; Field Contact, 8; Warrant Arrest, 8; Request for Security Checks, 7; Abandoned Vehicle, 6; Prowler/Trespass, 6; Traffic Accident, 5; Noise Disturbance, 4; Domestic Disturbance, 4; Verbal Disturbance, 4; Escort, 4; Agency Assist, 4; Criminal Mischief, 3; Sexual Offender Address Verification, 3; Special Detail, 3; Suspicious Person, 3; Suspicious Vehicle, 3; Animal Call, 2; Citizen Assist, 2; Disabled Vehicle, 2; Fraud/Forgery, 2; Hit and Run Accident, 2; Harassing Phone Call, 2; Prisoner Transport, 2; Street Obstruction, 2; Burglary of Auto, 1; Burglary of Residence, 1; Contact Message, 1; Deceased Person, 1; Physical Disturbance, 1; Mentally Ill, 1; Reckless Driver, 1; Recovered Property, 1; Sexual Offender Reregistration, 1; Suspicious Activity, 1; Theft, 1; and Welfare Check, 1. Prepared by: Capt. C. Buchanan Approved by: Sheriff Mike Harrison Page 5 of 5