HOLT —Baker resident Robert Lee Hall is facing drug trafficking charges from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office after deputies found methamphetamine near his vehicle this morning.

According to the sheriff’s office arrest report, an OCSO officer responded to a call from a concerned citizen living along Wilkerson Bluff Road in Holt.

The citizen reported a suspicious vehicle, described as a white Ford F-150, in the area. An officer responded to the call and located the described vehicle along the roadway.

In the report, the responding officer observed Hall standing outside of the vehicle. Before approaching Hall, the officer reported seeing the suspect drop a white pill bottle on the ground and trying to kick the bottle underneath the truck.

When the officer asked Hall about the bottle, Hall said he had just found it. Since Hall said the bottle did not belong to him, the officer investigated the bottle and substance inside of it at the scene, which later tested positive for methamphetamine.

Officers on scene identified a plastic bottle in the vehicle, which also tested positive for methamphetamine.

In the report, Hall told officers that he found the plastic bottle with its contained substance a few days ago and put it in his truck. Hall told officers that he planned to dump the liquid out, but never got around to doing so.

Officers also identified other products regularly used to manufacture methamphetamine, including lithium batteries and drain cleaner.

Hall denied producing methamphetamine at the scene, but said he has produced methamphetamine in the past, the arrest report stated. 

Hall was taken into custody and booked into Okaloosa County Jail. 

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

The Crestview Police Department and Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office provided the following crime reports for publication:

Crestview

Oct. 9

●Michael Fields Poore, 49, Crestview: affray.

●Lisa Renee Harrell, 31, Crestview: affray and carrying a concealed weapon or device.

Oct. 16

●Jesse Jeremiah O. Ganey, 18, Crestview: aggravated battery on pregnant victim.

●Dion Rafel Lowe, 43, Crestview: battery.

●James Patrick Matthews, 26, Holt: loitering.

●Brian Velazquez, 26, Crestview: battery.

Oct. 17

●Anthony John Rainelli, 24, Crestview: child abuse.

●Jaime Alan Stewart, 35, Crestview: out-of-county warrant.

●Catherine Nicole Nugent, 21, Crestview: retail theft.

Oct. 18

●Summerlee Lee Shoda, 34, Crestview: fraud to obtain  refund and petit larceny.

●Steven Blankenship, 21, Crestview: animal cruelty.

Oct. 19

●Ryan Phillip Tomas, 18, unlisted address: child abuse.

●Robert Lee Williams, 63, Crestview: burglary to a conveyance.

Oct. 21

●Christopher Len Thompson, 49, Laurel Hill: driving under the influence and driving with suspended license.

Okaloosa

Oct. 28

●Buren Thomas Barton, 52, Baker: aggravated assault.

●Gregory A. Clemence, 39, Bayonne, N.J.: out-of-county warrant.

●Jeffery Michael Vincent Greene, 27, Crestview: out-of-county warrant.

●Kawaii Colette Johnson, 22, Baker: aggravated battery.

●Christopher David Smith, 32, Niceville: controlled substance possession without a prescription.

●Trevor Duke Trawick, 20, Century: failure to register motor vehicle and have motor vehicle liability insurance.

Oct. 29

●Marshall Allen Holmes, 42, Crestview: drug possession without a prescription, larceny totaling $300-$5,000, and controlled substance possession without a prescription.

●Mona Rechelle Nelson, 52, Holt: driving under the influence.

Oct. 30

●Robert Lee Hall, 41, Baker: amphetamine trafficking.

●Sheila Diana Smelley, 46, Crestview: simple assault.

Oct. 31

●Jerilmy Ellis Alonzo Brown, 35, Crestview: battery.

●Michael Lynn Henley, 31, Shalimar: battery on officer or firefighter.

●Steven Hal Lance, 54, Baker: expired motor vehicle registration, driving with suspended-revoked license, failure to have motor vehicle liability insurance.

●Daryl Stacie Moore, 46, Crestview: battery.

Nov. 1

●Neva Evelyn Booker, 49, Baker: violating pre-trial release conditions.

●Batarus Twjaun Hill, 326, Crestview: out-of-county warrant.

●Jonathan Aaron Hodge, 26, Mary Esther: drug equipment possession or use.

●Donald Roger Raymond, 63, Crestview: battery.

●Miranda Faye Seagle, 24, Fort Walton Beach: probation violation.

Nov. 2

●Jeremiah Narada Lovejoy, 22, Fort Walton Beach: battery on officer or firefighters and resisting an officer without violence.

●Stephon Latrey Thrash, 26, Crestview: expired drivers license and driving with suspended or revoked license.

●Warren Williams, 44, Baker: driving under the influence.

Nov. 3

●Shamus Mason-Cotner Marshall, 20, unlisted address: out--of-county warrant.

●Timothy Isaac Simpler, 34, Holt: out-of-county warrant.

CRESTVIEW — Local and state emergency services officials say they are prepared for Ebola's potential threat.

FIRE DEPARTMENT

Ebola's infectious, often fatal symptoms include internal bleeding and fever. At least one U.S. resident has died from the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Crestview Fire Department regularly receives the CDC's preparation tips and recommendations for dealing with the disease, Fire Chief Joe Traylor said.

Staffers' tablets have apps that inform them of Ebola's symptoms and how to handle each case.

In addition, firefighters have protective gear for encountering biohazardous materials or blood-borne pathogens. Each department response truck has at least one protective suit, Traylor said.

HOSPITAL

David Fuller, North Okaloosa Medical Center's CEO, said the hospital can handle Ebola's threat.

“We deal with (infectious diseases) every day, like influenza,” he said. “We use infection control practices, everything from masks to isolation techniques.”

Testing for the Ebola  virus could take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours, and the state health department and CDC would verify results, he said.

EMERGENCY SERVICES

Okaloosa EMS Chief Tracey Vause said first responders' reliance on CDC updates shows the significance of avoiding surprises.

“This has made me realize the importance of maintaining a high level of preparedness,” Vause said.  

The county's 18-member Infectious Disease Transport Team would activate for the Ebola virus, or other dangerous threats — like anthrax exposure or a case of the avian influenza. 

STATE

Gov. Rick Scott's office recently announced that any Florida resident who has returned or plans to return from CDC designated Ebola-affected areas must receive mandatory health monitoring.

On Oct. 18, the governor’s office announced that the CDC agreed to the state’s request to enhance Ebola preparedness with an informative conference call for state hospitals.

The center will also redirect more than $7 million in federal grants for purchasing equipment and supplies for healthcare workers who encounter Ebola.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

CRESTVIEW — Jerome Parrish has been sentenced to life without parole in connection with first-degree premeditated murder.

The charge arose from the stabbing death of Parrish’s wife, Alyssa, on April 22, 2012 in Crestview.

Parrish was sentenced Nov. 3 before Judge Michael Flowers.

In return for a plea, the State Attorney’s Office agreed to withdraw the death penalty as possible punishment.

The Crestview Police Department conducted the investigation. and Assistant State Attorney Bobby Elmore handled the case.

CRESTVIEW — Marc Joseph Lowe Jr., a designated sexual predator, has registered a temporary Crestview address, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office.

Lowe, who lives at 111 Villacrest Drive, was convicted of lewdly fondling or assaulting, committing or simulating sexual acts on or in the presence of a child under 16 years old, according to the OCSO.  

Editor's Note: Mr. Lowe lived at this address for four days, but he has since left, we've learned. 

BAKER — A 31-year-old Pensacola woman accused of making false child abuse reports is due in court Dec. 2.

Since May 14, 2013, Krystal Lynn Godwin made the following claims, according to an arrest report:

●Thata woman’s “paramour” was “drunk in the presence of the kids.”

●The paramour — who was “admitted to a mental facility for 72 hours” and was returning to the home — hit the mother in front of the children and had been arrested for domestic violence against other people.

●There was a loaded gun in the home within the children's reach.

●The child was allowed “to walk home alone from school.”

A Department of Children and Families investigator found that the report was false and there was no indicator of abuse, according to authorities. The investigator noted that the mother showed her “hundreds of text messages” from Godwin, including threats that Godwin was “going to make her life hell and call HRS,” according to the report.

Deputies spoke to Godwin on March 20, and she said she had made the false accusation, the report said.

She said she “could promise that she won’t make the calls again.”

She was arrested Oct. 23 and charged with making a false report of child abuse.

The Better Business Bureau of Northwest Florida is warning local consumers to watch out for unethical asphalt paving contractors. Numerous consumers have alerted BBB of an individual soliciting paving work door-to-door. 

To avoid falling for asphalt scams, be sure you know who you’re dealing with. Watch for these common signs of an asphalt scam:

• They claim to have leftover asphalt from another job. Be aware of paving companies that approach your home, stating that they are “in the area” and have extra asphalt or concrete to repair your driveway for a minimal cost. Professional asphalt contractors know, with great accuracy, how much paving material is needed to complete a project. Rarely will they have leftover material.

• High pressure sales. Never hire someone on the spot. Trustworthy contractors provide a written estimate that will be valid for days or weeks. Ask for local references and verify that the contractor is in compliance, current and up-to-date with all local licensing, bonding and insuring requirements.

• Deals that seem too good to be true. If the quoted price seems very low, chances are the quality of work will also be quite low. Many times the company will quote a low price for their work and upon completion overcharge the customer.

• No contract is offered. Insist on a written estimate specifying in detail the work to be performed and the agreed total price, not just price per square foot. Then get at least two more quotes before hiring a contractor.

• Unmarked trucks. Often the trucks they travel in are unmarked or they have an out-of-town license plate, address and phone number. A little research will reveal that they have no permanent address and the phone number is often an answering machine or answering service.

BBB advises homeowners to take the time to choose a contractor they can trust when looking to re-do their driveway:

• Start With Trust! Always check out a contractor on bbb.org before doing business with them.

• Check references.  Ask for local references and verify that the contractor is in compliance with all local licensing, bonding and insuring requirements.

• Get it in writing. Be sure that the contract spells out which party is responsible for grading and sub-grading, equipment and materials, labor, pavement thickness and smoothness, etc. Make sure the payment schedule is satisfactory and that there is a clear guarantee or warranty for the work. Also, get an agreement in place – in writing – that your yard is to be returned to pre-construction condition. Don’t sign an agreement without understanding it.

PENSACOLA — A former bank president from Crestview, charged with bank fraud and money laundering, faces trial Jan. 5.

A federal grand jury indicted Michael “Sean” Davis, 43, for nine felony counts: one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and/or mail fraud affecting a financial institution, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, four counts of false statement to a federally insured institution, two counts of fraudulently benefitting from a loan by a federally insured institution, and one count of money laundering.

The indictment alleges that Davis, while president of Premier Community Bank of the Emerald Coast, schemed to defraud and fraudulently obtain money and property from Premier Community Bank, Bank of America, and Beach Community Bank, all of which were federally insured.

Davis allegedly orchestrated short sales from Bank of America by causing the submission of false documents in real estate closings. The indictment also alleges that Davis, through his company MSD Investments, received funds from loans he authorized and approved as president of Premier Community Bank.

Davis was arraigned Thursday afternoon before Magistrate Judge Elizabeth M. Timothy at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola.He will face trial before Chief United States District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers.

The case is being investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation with assistance from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Office of Inspector General, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office as part of the Northwest Florida Financial Crimes Task Force and the U.S. Treasury Department’s Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany H. Eggers.

The Crestview Police Department and Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office provided the following crime reports for publication:

Crestview

Oct. 16

●Brenda Tucker, 57, Crestview: battery.

Oct. 17

●Elizabeth Stebbins Kollar, 43, Crestview: elderly exploitation, more than $10,000.

Oct. 27

●Beau Burton, 36, Crestview: battery and resisting an officer without violence.

Oct. 28

●Robert L. Williams, 63, Crestview: unarmed vehicle burglary.

●Carlton Cletis McClellan, 40, Crestview: battery.

●Jason Erik Holland, 32, Crestview: battery.

Oct. 29

●Deshawn Montaye McQueen, 35, Crestview: firing a missile into a dwelling, vehicle or structure, and petit theft, $100-$300.

Nov. 2

●Shaquita Cherelle Coleman, 24, Crestview: aggravated battery.

Nov. 3

●Vanessa Lee Young, 27, Crestview: retail theft.

Nov. 4

●Alvin Tremaine McTear, 27, Crestview: cocaine possession, resisting an officer without violence and battery by strangulation.

Nov. 5

●Royce Anthony Dillard, 21, Crestview: marijuana possession with intent to sell, and possession of a controlled substance.

Okaloosa

Nov. 5

●Daemond Keith Powers, 28, Crestview: domestic violence injunction violation.

●Henry Marcus Price, 51, Crestview: amphetamine trafficking.

Nov. 6

●Ricky Shane Lundy, 22, Baker: driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license, marijuana possession and drug equipment possession or use.

●Robert Earl Triplett, 44, Crestview: driving with suspended license.

●Michael Ryan Waite, 29 Crestview: fugitive from justice.

Nov. 7

●Wendy Renee Boardman, 41, Crestview: out-of-county warrant.

●Branden Lee Cosson, 34, Crestview: battery.

●Steven Anthony Harrison, 47, Laurel Hill: out-of-county warrant.

●Cosby Linson, 45, Crestview: driving with suspended license and attaching registration license plate not assigned.

Nov. 8

●Michael Taylor Hughes, 48, Gainsville, Ga.: aggravated battery on pregnant victim, marijuana possession and drug equipment.

CRESTVIEW — Mary Williams is sentenced to 18 years in prison on charges of robbery with a weapon and armed kidnapping with a weapon.

The charges arose from a Dec. 30, 2013 incident in the Crestview area. Williams approached the victim in the Wal-Mart parking lot asking for a ride back into Crestview. As the victim was driving, the defendant produced what later was determined to be a pellet gun and forced the victim to drive to Eglin Federal Credit Union and withdraw money. The defendant then took the money and identification from the victim and fled the scene.

CRESTVIEW — U.S. Highway 98's westbound outside right lane, between Hurlburt Field's runway and Fallin Waters Drive in Okaloosa County, will be closed a portion of two days this week.

Expect the lane closure between 7 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday as crews perform utility work. Scheduled roadwork may be rescheduled in case of severe weather. 

CRESTVIEW — Lonnie Ray Hutto is sentenced to 30 years in the Department of Corrections on a robbery charge, according to William Eddins, the First Judicial Circuit's state attorney.

A jury convicted Hutto in October on charges that arose from an incident at the Crestview Wal-Mart. A Wal-Mart employee noticed him picking up merchandise and acting suspiciously, according to a state attorney's news release. The employee approached Hutto after he left the store without paying, and Hutto threatened the employee with violence.

Hutto escaped but Crestview police captured him shortly afterward.

The defendant — a prison releasee reoffender and habitual felony offender — will not be eligible for parole and will serve almost 28 years in prison.

CRESTVIEW — Michael Anthony Chessher is sentenced to seven and five years in prison for trafficking methamphetamine — over 28 grams but less than 200 grams — and driving with a suspended license, habitual traffic offender, respectively.

The charges arose from a July 26 incident in the Crestview area. Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office deputies conducted a traffic stop on Chessher's vehicle and he was arrested for driving with a suspended license.

Lawmen found items used to make methamphetamine and a bottle of liquid during an inventory search of the vehicle. Chessher told law enforcement that he was making methamphetamine and the items belonged to him.

Chessher is not eligible for parole.

Lee Monroe Tower is sentenced to the minimum 15 years in prison for trafficking methamphetamine (200 grams or more).

The charges arose from an April 21 incident in the Crestview area. Law enforcement officials responded to the report of a possible methamphetamine lab at Tower’s residence. They gained consent to search the residence and located multiple items indicative of a methamphetamine lab including several cooking vessels.

Tower is not eligible for parole.

The Pensacola Police Department filed multiple charges against a Crestview resident Monday night.

William McNeal Goode, 47, of 5851 Saratoga Drive, was charged Monday night with solicitation of a parent or legal guardian for unlawful sexual conduct, attempted lewd and lascivious battery on a minor, traveling to meet a minor for sexual purposes, and using a two-way communication device for an unlawful act.

According to a police department press release, he traveled to Pensacola planning to have sex with a 12-year-old girl.

The investigation began Nov. 5 after the Pensacola Police Department’s Computer Crimes Unit received a complaint about someone soliciting parents via Craigslist to have sex with their children.

The investigation is continuing to determine if Goode had prior sexual contact with children.

The North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force members participating in the investigation included the Pensacola Police Department, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Goode, an Okaloosa School District substitute teacher, is the husband of Northwood Arts and Science Academy Principal Donna Goode.

Goode was removed from the list of eligible substitute teachers in Okaloosa County as soon as the district was alerted to his Monday night arrest, according to Stacie Smith, the assistant superintendent of Human Resources.

He was approved as a substitute teacher on Oct. 24, 2013, but hasn’t subbed often, she said.

Tjhe Pensacola Police Department has updated the contact phone numbers for this case. Anyone having information about suspicious activity involving Goode is asked to call The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office at 850-651-7400 or 850-609-2000.

SHALIMAR — The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office today charged a Shalimar man with lewd or lascivious battery on a person 12 to 16 years of age.

Larry Michael Thorne, 53, a chaplain at Abundant Life Church, is accused of committing the sexual acts on numerous occasions between Jan. 1, 2012 and Nov. 11, 2014.

The victim says the relationship began with mutual massages when she was 14 and then escalated into sexual activity. Thorne admitted buying the victim a phone and paying for her phone service, but denies any sexual contact with the teen, according to the OCSO. 

CRESTVIEW — Earlier today, callers heard something that sounded like "shots" fired behind an auto body store. 

However, Crestview police said, sounds reported near Precision Auto Body on North Ferdon Boulevard weren't gunshots. 

Officers checked that and the Rayburn Street areas, and reported no source for the sounds.

CPD Lt. Andrew Schneider said officers responding to the call found nothing to indicate a shooting.

Additionally, CPD officers found nothing that would have caused the bang.

NICEVILLE — A 37-year-old Crestview man is charged with walking out of Walmart with four televisions that he hadn’t paid for.

Ronald Leslie Soles Jr. was caught on surveillance taking televisions on Nov. 2 and 3, according to the arrest report. On Nov. 2, he allegedly went into Walmart and put two 32-inch televisions into a car and then walked out without paying.

The televisions were valued at $556, the report said. He did the same thing the next day with two 42-inch televisions, worth $996.

Niceville Police officers tracked Soles through the license plate of the vehicle he got into after the thefts, according to the report.

Soles is charged with two counts of grand theft of more than $300 but less than $5,000.

His next scheduled court date is Dec. 2.

CRESTVIEW — The Okaloosa County Road Division will resurface PJ Adams Parkway, between the I-10 overpass and Highway 85, Thursday evening through early Sunday morning.

To minimize impact for travelers, work will be performed from 7:30 p.m. until approximately 6 a.m. each day.

Bobby Drive and Lustan Drive will also close during construction hours.

Access to Bobby Drive will be via Villacrest Drive and access to Lustan Drive will be via Cadle Drive.  After construction operations have concluded each morning, barricades at these locations will be removed and normal traffic can resume.

Drivers should exercise caution and expect delays during construction hours. Additionally:

●Construction zones will be posted in advance and crews will use traffic ‘Flaggers’ and a ‘Follow Me’ truck.

●Everyone should obey all traffic laws, especially while in a construction zone, and never attempt to pass the ‘Follow’ truck.

●Motorists traveling from Highways 90 to 85 (or vice versa) should remain on the main routes and not use PJ Adams Parkway/Antioch Road as a “cut through” during these three evenings.

SHALIMAR — Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley honored two investigators Monday whose hard work helped solve a 16-year-old murder case.

Jewel Melvin had been beaten and strangled inside her Crestview home before her body was discovered May 15, 1998.

In a press release, OSCO officials stated, "There were some initial suspects, but it took years of diligent efforts by Investigator Ralph Garret, joined in 2005 by Investigator Mike Irwin, to move this murder case forward to where it stands now: with the grand jury indictments of two individuals - Michael McCombs and Steven Earl Kimmons."

Okaloosa Sheriff Larry Ashley said, “Their perseverance in working leads, finding witnesses, and pursuing the evidence, was instrumental in bringing the case before that grand jury. I also want to mention the invaluable assistance of FDLE Special Agent Dennis Haley,” Ashley said.

“Due to the collaborative dedication and expertise they brought to this case, the Melvin family can finally see justice served and know that no amount of time would stop these investigators from trying to put the people responsible for terrorizing and killing an innocent senior citizen behind bars.

 Ashley said the officers  "exemplify the commitment to excellence we continue to strive for and have earned the Award for Outstanding Performance."