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Walton County authorities are seeking help from neighboring counties in locating missing 16-year-old Dreama Justice, of DeFuniak Springs, Fla.

WCSO deputies received a call Sept. 12 at approximately 9:45 a.m. from the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) regarding the possible disappearance of Dreama. Deputies immediately began an investigation and met with Dreama’s friends and family to gather information.

According to statements and information collected by the WCSO, it is possible that Dreama may be traveling to New York. There is no indication or evidence of foul play.

In addition to working with regional law enforcement agencies, the WCSO asks the public for assistance in locating the missing juvenile. Dreama Justice is described as a white female who is 5 feet, 8 inches tall. She weighs approximately 125 pounds and has brown eyes and brown hair.

If you have information regarding her whereabouts, you are encouraged to contact the Walton County Sheriff’s Office at (850) 892-8186 or your local law enforcement agency.

An Altha man has been arrested in connection with burglaries of storage units in Marianna.
On September 8, Officers with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office conducted an investigation into at least eight storage units that had been burglarized at Arrowhead R.V.
In the course of the Investigation, Andrew Curtis Neel of Altha was developed as a suspect. Contact was made with Andrew Neel and several items were found in Neel’s possession that were stolen from the storage units. Also found to be in Neel’s possession were several stolen items that had been taken in a separate burglary of a storage unit that occurred at a different location.
The stolen property was recovered and Neel was arrested for nine different burglaries, as well as theft. Neel was placed in the Jackson County Jail to await first appearances.

The thermometer says it all: Calhoun and surrounding counties are attempting to raise $2 million this year to help area charities and non-profit groups. [Full Story »] 

Two inmates were apprehended shortly after escaping from the Calhoun County Jail in the early morning hours Tuesday.
Christopher Jack Leach and Kristopher Dean Honrine, both 19, have been charged with escape, as well as resisting arrest with violence. Leach is also charged with battery on a law enforcement officer.
According to the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, the correctional officer on duty passed out bed linens and locked down the dorm. Around 12:30 a.m., he retrieved his lunch from his vehicle and re-entered the facility, stopping to introduce himself to a new employee in dispatch. About half an hour later, he heard a loud bang on the jail door and an inmate advised Honrine and Leach had escaped. The pair allegedly fled through a back exit.
Law enforcement officers from the CCSO, BPD, and FHP, as well as a K-9 tracking team from Calhoun Correctional Institution, were dispatched to the area. A tip came in that the inmates were at McDonald’s. Capt. Michael Bryant spotted the pair in the lobby of the restaurant. The inmates saw him, then fled out a side door toward Subway.
An off-duty deputy from Franklin County was in the McDonald’s parking lot and alerted authorities to the inmates hiding in the bushes. The pair fled again and Cpl. Eddie Dalton located Leach on Gaskin Street. As Cpl. Dalton ordered Leach to stop running, Leach allegedly headed toward him in an aggressive manner, raised his right hand and swung at Cpl. Dalton’s face with a closed fist. Cpl. Dalton dodged him and took him into custody with Leach hitting and kicking as he was handcuffed.
Sheriff Tatum tracked Honrine beneath the bushes outside Superior Bank. Cpl. Dalton and Trooper Wes Harsey struggled with Honrine briefly as they took him into custody.
The pair were back behind bars by 2 a.m.

A Blountstown couple is behind bars after meth was found in their home.
Frederick Eugene Barfield, 29, and Jessica Dawn Barfield, 27, have each been charged with possession of meth.
According to the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, Lt. Adam Terry responded to the couple’s 22nd Street home after a Department of Children and Family Services investigator found meth in the house.
The DCF investigator advised she was responding to an abuse report about the couple’s alleged drug use. She said Jessica Barfield admitted to using meth and turned over a clear container of meth from her bathroom. Both Freddie and Jessica allegedly confessed to cooking meth at home in the past, but said they had not cooked any lately.

The Calhoun-Liberty Drug Task Force netted another arrest Tuesday in the war against meth.
Debbie Mayo Kent, 49, has been charged with sale of a controlled substance and possession of listed chemicals.
According to the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, a confidential informant alleged Kent was seeking to trade 15 Valium pills for pseudoephedrine to manufacture meth.
Lt. Mark Mallory, Sgt. Todd Wheetley and Lt. Tim Partridge monitored as the source met Kent and made the exchange. Moments later, Kent’s vehicle was stopped by authorities and she was taken into custody. The pseudoephedrine was located in her purse. A straw with meth residue was found in Kent’s vehicle. Kent allegedly admitted she planned to use the pills to make meth.
Kent remains in custody on a $15,000 bond.

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A Hosford man was arrested Saturday night after shooting at his brother.
James Edward Brown, 62, has been charged with aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony.
According to the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, Dep. Duncan Rudd and Dep. Chad Smith were dispatched to a home on Johnny Brown Road after reports of shots fired. Ellis Brown, 61, told the deputies he was working in his shop around 6:30 p.m. when he heard wheels spinning in his driveway. He looked out to see James Edward Brown getting out of his truck cussing. Ellis alleged James stated, “How you like this?” as he unzipped the case of his .45 handgun.
Ellis told authorities James fired toward him as he ran through his shop to his truck. “He fired a second shot prior to me getting to my truck,” Ellis remarked. “I got behind my truck and opened my toolbox.” Ellis said he took a 12 guage shotgun from his toolbox and ducked behind his truck.
“While I was getting my shotgun I heard two more shots,” Ellis stated. “I then raised my gun over the body of my truck and shot one time. I then ducked back behind my truck and heard his truck tires spinning off.”
Two large caliber bullet holes were discovered in a post with the bullets embedded.
James Brown was located and placed under arrest.

A Blountstown woman was arrested Friday after running a deputy off the road.
Christy Culpan, 29, has been charged with DUI in the case.
According to the Calhoun County Sheriff's Department, Dep. Scotty Norris was southbound on SR 71 North near Hayes Subdivision Road just after 2 a.m. when a northbound vehicle exited a curve and crossed into Norris' lane. He was forced to leave the road to avoid a head-on collision. The vehicle was clocked by radar at 75 mph as the driver corrected. Norris reports the driver hit the brakes and turned onto Hayes Subdivision Road where he closed in and conducted a traffic stop.
Culpan, who was behind the wheel, was unable to provide her license, registration or proof of insurance. She appeared intoxicated and asked if she could drive to a nearby residence to visit a friend. She was taken into custody after failing a series of field sobriety tests.

The new Blountstown High School was officially dedicated Thursday morning. [Full Story »] 

Calhoun County Commissioner Truman Grant was arrested late Tuesday night following an argument with his wife that allegedly turned physical.
Grant, 62, has been charged with domestic battery.
According to the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office, a 911 call was received just after 11 p.m. from the Grant residence on SE State Road 69. Dep. Jody Hoagland and Cpl. Eddie Dalton responded and were met by Grant's daughter who advised her father had thrown her mother to the floor, causing the woman to strike her head. Grant was found in the kitchen and told authorities he overheard his wife on the phone with another man. He said he confronted her about the conversation and she walked into the bedroom. Grant said he followed her and attempted to take the phone when a tussle ensued. He reportedly admitted to throwing his wife on the floor and stated she hit her head.
Grant's wife was found very disoriented and taken by EMS to the emergency room for treatment.
Grant was booked into the Calhoun County Jail.