Contact: Lt.
Tim Wood MEDIA RELEASE
Telephone: 850-227-1115
March 19, 2019
Email:
[email protected] GCSO LAW ENFORCEMENT SUMMARY
MARCH 4, 2019 – MARCH 17, 2019
On Monday, March 4, Deputy C. Harvey received a tip regarding a wanted person on Byrd
Parker Drive in Wewahitchka. Trake Alex Cobb (27) was wanted out of Bay County for
violation of probation. Deputy Harvey located Cobb in the 500 block of Byrd Parker Drive,
took him into custody and delivered him to the Gulf County Detention Facility.
On Monday, March 4, the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office received information from the
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, asking to check a residence in Gulf County for a subject
that was wanted in Flagler County. Devan Ryan Clark (24) was wanted for failing to appear
in court for operating a motor vehicle without a license. Deputy J. Page went to Trout
Avenue in Highland View and located Clark. Clark was taken into custody and transported
to the Gulf County Detention Facility.
On Monday, March 4, Sgt. C. Dixon took a report of a possible phone scam. The victim
reported that she received a voice mail from someone claiming to be with the Social
Security Administration (SSA), alleging that the victim’s social security benefits are being
withheld. The victim called the number back and spoke with someone wanting her social
security number, which she provided. There are many scams out there involving people
posing as the SSA and asking for personal information. If you do get a call from someone
saying they are from the SSA, don’t give that person your personal information. Hang up
and call the SSA toll free number, 1-800-772-1213, to verify the call before providing any
information.
On Tuesday, March 5, the Gulf County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a hit and run
accident that occurred on the White City Bridge. The vehicle that caused the accident
drove away traveling north on Hwy 71. Sgt. C. Dixon and Deputy J. Page located the
vehicle, which was traveling with a flat tire, and conducted a traffic stop on it near the
intersection of Hwy 71 and CR 381. Deputies identified the driver as Michael D. Horton
(61) of Canton, Ohio. Horton was detained while the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP)
responded to work the accident. Deputies discovered that Horton was in possession of
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approximately 76 grams of Marijuana and rolling papers so he was charged with
Possession of Marijuana (Felony) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. As a result of
FHP’s crash investigation, they charged Horton with Reckless Driving and Leaving the
Scene of an Accident with Property Damage.
On Tuesday, March 5, Deputy C. Harvey responded to a report of a domestic disturbance
on North Patrick Street in Overstreet. The incident involved William Haley Kent (20) and
his grandfather. A verbal argument between Kent and his grandfather escalated when
Kent, in a rage of anger, tore a door off its frame. After that exhibition, things turned
physical and Kent attacked his grandfather by hitting him with his fists. Kent was placed
under arrest and charged with Domestic Battery and Criminal Mischief.
On Tuesday, March 5, Sgt. R. Burkett and Deputy V. Everett went to Sunset Drive in Land’s
Landing to execute a pick-up order on a juvenile wanted in Bay County. Deputies located
the juvenile, who was placed under arrest and transported to a juvenile detention facility.
On Tuesday, March 5, Deputy V. Everett travelled to the Bay County to pick up Mitchel
Keith Hodges (40) and transport him to the Gulf County Detention Facility to be booked
on a warrant for Violation of Probation. Hodges was on probation for Possession of a
Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On Wednesday, March 6, Deputy Desrosier responded to the 100 block of Pinecrest Lane
in Wewahitchka in reference to the report of a theft. The complainant reported that he
ordered a softball glove online and according to the retailer the item was delivered on
March 4. After observing a suspicious vehicle in the area, the complainant contacted the
GCSO to report the theft. The glove is valued at $50. Deputy Desrosier continues to
investigate.
On Thursday, March 7, at approximately 0123 hours the GCSO received a report of a
traffic accident on US Highway 98 near Court Street. Deputy A. White responded to the
report. The crash shut down one lane of traffic. The Florida Highway Patrol responded
to investigate the crash.
On Thursday, March 7, Deputy A. White served a Writ of Bodily Attachment for Child
Support on Tanya N. Ellis (44). Ellis was taken into custody by the Manatee County
Sheriff’s Office and extradited to Gulf County by a transport company.
On Friday, March 8, Deputy M. Peek conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of Our
Town Road and Linton Road. During the traffic stop Deputy Peek deployed his K-9 “Brix”
to conduct an open air sniff around the vehicle. Brix alerted, giving Deputy Peek probable
cause to search the vehicle. Inside the vehicle Deputy Peek found methamphetamine and
a glass pipe used to smoke methamphetamine. The driver, and sole occupant of the
vehicle, was identified as Christopher Darrell Peoples (41). Peoples was placed under
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arrest and charged with Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of
Paraphernalia.
On Saturday, March 9, Deputy Chase Harvey and Deputy Matt Peek were investigating a
report of a stolen vehicle on South Dianna Street in Stone Mill Creek. Deputies located
the vehicle, which was in the possession of a family member. No charges were to be filed
against the suspect, however, the suspect was with a man named Phillip Larry Bass Jr (37),
who was wanted in Bay County for failing to register as a sex offender. Bass was taken
into custody and transported to the Gulf County Detention Facility.
On Saturday, March 9, at approximately 1:22 AM, Deputy M. Manley was dispatched to a
construction site located on Westwind Drive on Cape San Blas in reference to someone
loading lumber into a truck. Deputy Manley arrived on scene and contacted Mark
Hamilton Hatcher (40) who was attempting to leave the scene. Hatcher explained that
he was doing construction work at the site and that his employer could vouch for him.
The employer was notified, and though it was an odd hour to be on the job, the employer
did not find it necessary to suspect anything criminal. Before clearing the scene, Deputy
Manley learned that Hatcher was wanted on a warrant for twelve counts of Animal
Abandonment. The warrant against Hatcher stemmed from a Port St. Joe Police
Investigation that began on February 23, 2019. Hatcher was taken into custody and
transported to the Gulf County Detention Facility.
On Saturday, March 9, Deputy C. Harvey was dispatched to the 6000 block of Cape San
Blas Road to investigate a report of a stolen boat, motor and trailer. The victim reported
that the boat was stolen from his property sometime between Tuesday, March 5 and the
morning of the report. The stolen boat is described as a 2002 19-foot Twin Vee Bay Cat
with a 115 HP Suzuki four stroke motor. The person responsible for stealing the boat may
be driving a dark colored dually style pick-up truck, unknown make or model.
On Wednesday, March 13, Deputy M. Manley was dispatched to Rich’s IGA in
Wewahitchka to investigate a report of a shoplifting. Store video surveillance captured
the theft of some meat products. Deputy Manley is working to identify the persons in the
video and criminal charges will be pending.
On Friday, March 15, Inv. S. Ferrell and Deputy M. Peek detained a subject in the parking
lot of the Dixie Dandy in Wewahitchka after learning that the vehicle he was driving did
not have the correct license plate attached to it. Cody Allen Skipper (34) was the driver
of the vehicle and was seen driving it on public roads. Skipper, who did not have a valid
driver’s license, was placed under arrest and charged with Attaching Registration Tag Not
Assigned and Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (Habitual Felony). Deputy
Peek deployed K-9 Brix to conduct a free-air sniff around the vehicle which resulted in an
alert by Brix, indicating the presence of an odor of illegal narcotics in the vehicle. A
probable cause search ensued and methamphetamine and a glass smoking pipe with
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methamphetamine residue. Skipper was additionally charged with Possession of
Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On Saturday, March 16, Sgt. P. Williams was dispatched to a residence on 2 nd Street in
Wewahitchka in regards to a trespasser. Clay Von Turner Jr. (19) was found to be in a
vacated home that he was previously trespassed from. Turner was placed under arrest
and charged with Trespass.
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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