Contact: Lt.
Tim Wood MEDIA RELEASE
Telephone: 850-227-1115
October 2, 2018
Email:
[email protected] GCSO LAW ENFORCEMENT SUMMARY
SEPTEMBER 24, 2018 – SEPTEMBER 30, 2018
On Tuesday, September 25th, Sgt. Sanders traveled to the Bay County Jail to pick up James
Travis Prescott (42) and transport him to the Gulf County Detention Facility to be booked
on three Writ of Bodily Attachments for failing to pay child support.
On Tuesday, September 25th, K-9 Deputy M. Peek and Investigator S. Ferrell conducted a
traffic stop on Hurd Street in Wewahitchka on a vehicle for failing to stop at a stop sign.
During the course of the stop, K-9 Brix was deployed on the vehicle to conduct a free air
sniff. Brix alerted on the vehicle, giving deputies probable cause to search the vehicle for
illegal narcotics. A search revealed a cigarette pack containing a plastic baggie with a
crystal-like substance that tested positive for Methamphetamine. Marijuana and drug
paraphernalia were also found. The driver, James R. Ard, Jr. (35), was placed under arrest
and charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana and
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Ard was transported to the Gulf County Detention
Facility for booking.
On Tuesday, September 25th, Deputy G. Desrosier served a warrant on William Earl Barber
(27) at the Gulf County Detention Facility. Barber, who was already incarcerated on
unrelated charges, was charged with Trespassing following an investigation by Deputy J.
Page which began on September 7th, 2018.
On Wednesday, September 26th, Investigator P. Baxley completed an investigation
involving the misuse of corporate funds by arresting Charles James Edwards (42).
Edwards was arrested and charged with Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card after it was
discovered that he was responsible for charging approximately $13,000 worth of
unauthorized credit card debt on his employer’s corporate account.
On Wednesday, September 26th, Sgt. C. Dixon traveled to the Bay County Jail to arrest
Charles Laney Lowe (50) and transport him to Gulf County to be booked on a Violation of
Probation warrant. Lowe was on probation for Possession of Less Than Twenty Grams of
Marijuana.
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On Thursday, September 27th, K-9 Deputy M. Peek and Investigator S. Ferrell conducted
a traffic stop on Old Transfer Road in Wewahitchka. The driver, identified as Michael Alan
Strickland (41), told deputies that his driver’s license was not good. This information was
confirmed with communications and Strickland was arrested for Driving While License
Suspended or Revoked (with knowledge) and No Vehicle Registration. He was transported
to the Gulf County Detention Facility for booking.
On Friday, September 28th, Deputy A. White was dispatched to Hwy 22 in the
Wewahitchka area in reference to several complaints of a reckless driver. It was reported
that a white pick-up truck was failing to maintain lanes and had almost struck multiple
vehicles head on. Deputy A. White located he vehicle and noticed it was being operated
in a reckless manner. Deputy White conducted a traffic stop while on Hwy 71 near Harden
Circle. The driver, Casey William Kelley (41), was asked to perform field sobriety
assessments to determine his Blood Alcohol Content. Kelley performed the assessments
poorly and it was determined that he was too impaired to operate a motor vehicle. Kelley
was subsequently arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence. Kelley refused
to submit to a breath test. Kelley was on probation so he was additionally charged with
Violation of Probation.
On Friday, September 28th, K-9 Deputy M. Peek and Investigator S. Ferrell conducted a
traffic stop on a vehicle near the intersection of 2nd Street and Iola Avenue in Wewahitchka.
Deputies identified the driver as Jessica Marie Mumford (23) and learned that her driver’s
license was suspended. During the stop, Deputy Peek deployed K-9 Brix around the
vehicle to conduct a free air sniff. Brix alerted on the vehicle, giving deputies probable
cause to search it. A search revealed a glass smoking device with a crystal-like substance
inside of it. The smoking device tested positive for the presence of Methamphetamine.
Mumford was placed under arrest for Driving While License Suspended or Revoked
(Habitual), Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and
Violation of Probation. Mumford was on probation for the original charge of Possession
of Methamphetamine.
On Saturday, September 29th, K-9 Deputy M. Peek and Investigator S. Ferrell conducted a
traffic stop on a vehicle traveling North on Hwy 71 in Wewahitchka for faulty equipment.
As contact was being made with the driver, the passenger, identified as Brittany Jordana
Dykes (24), was attempting to conceal an object in her pants. Deputy D. Huggins was
called to the scene to search Dykes. Deputy Huggins found that Dykes was hiding a used
syringe on her person. The syringe had a fluid inside it that tested positive for
Methamphetamine. Dykes was placed under arrest and charged with Possession of
Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. She was transported to the Gulf
County Detention Facility for booking.
On Saturday, September 29th, Sgt. P. Williams conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle
traveling North on Hwy 71 in Wewahitchka. The occupants were identified as William
Austin Koontz (27), driver, and Daila Jade Thomas (33), passenger. K-9 Deputy M. Peek
and Investigator S. Ferrell arrived on scene to assist and K-9 Brix was deployed on the
vehicle. Brix alerted on the vehicle, giving deputies probable cause to search the vehicle.
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A search revealed personal amounts of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Koontz
and Thomas were both charged with Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of
Drug Paraphernalia and were transported to the Gulf County Detention Facility for
booking.
On Saturday, September 29th, Deputy A. White was dispatched to Pine Avenue in
Wewahitchka in reference to a subject trespassing. Upon arrival, Deputy White observed
Eric Anthony Sims (40) standing alone in the front yard of the residence he was dispatched
to. While dealing with Sims, he was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and
drug paraphernalia. Sims was placed under arrest and charged with Possession of
Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Resisting Law Enforcement without
Violence, and Violation of Probation. Sims was on probation for Possession of
Methamphetamine. He was transported to the Gulf County Detention Facility without
incident.
If you have any information regarding the aforementioned cases, please contact the Gulf
County Sheriff’s Office at 850-227-1115, 850-639-5717, or remain anonymous by calling
Crime Stoppers at 850-785-TIPS.
Prepared by: Lt. Tim Wood
Approved by: Sheriff Mike Harrison
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