Bear creek accident????

**Alicia Leonard** · 03-29-2008, 04:09 PM

Just got a call that something involving some responders south of Freeport around bear creek is going on. Said helicopters and ton of squad cars. Anybody hear anything?

**jodiFL** · 03-29-2008, 04:15 PM

Where is Bear Creek? off 3280?

**Alicia Leonard** · 03-29-2008, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by jodiFL

Where is Bear Creek? off 3280?

Yes, as I understand it. I'm not familiar with the road but that was what the caller told me.

**jodiFL** · 03-29-2008, 04:18 PM

Well the road is in HORRIBLE condition to start with, but I have also heard there is alot of undesirable activity in that area so who knows...

**Alicia Leonard** · 03-29-2008, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by jodiFL

Well the road is in HORRIBLE condition to start with, but I have also heard there is alot of undesirable activity in that area so who knows...

Thanks JodiFl, I have left message for one of our writers who lives in that area. The WCSO can't confirm anything for me right now, so I thought one of the posters here might be aware of what's up. Thanks, AL.

**jodiFL** · 03-29-2008, 04:46 PM

keep us posted if you hear anything. But I will tell my sons GF to drive home to Bruce up 331 instead of using 3280 when she leaves in a little while.

**Snerd** · 03-29-2008, 05:02 PM

The sheriff's department wouldn't tell us anything, but the deputies said they were looking for the guy they always are; the same one that eluded them near Jolly Bay Rd last month and in Pt. Washington months ago. All three times they have had helicopters involved.

**Alicia Leonard** · 03-29-2008, 05:04 PM

Originally Posted by Snerd

The sheriff's department wouldn't tell us anything, but the deputies said they were looking for the guy they always are; the same one that eluded them near Jolly Bay Rd last month and in Pt. Washington months ago. All three times they have had helicopters involved.

Thanks snerd. You are awesome. Giving you reporting rep right now

**Snerd** · 03-29-2008, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by jodiFL

Well the road is in HORRIBLE condition to start with, but I have also heard there is alot of undesirable activity in that area so who knows...

The beginning of 3280 which was horribly bumpy a year or so ago has been fixed. I think that was the only bad area on the road, the rest fine.

**jodiFL** · 03-29-2008, 05:07 PM

Glad to hear they fixed it all.

As I am sure all of those that live on it are.

**Snerd** · 03-29-2008, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by jodiFL

Glad to hear they fixed it all.

As I am sure all of those that live on it are.

My car is the most thankful! We were lucky in that it was fixed soon after we moved here.

**Snerd** · 03-29-2008, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by aleonard

Thanks snerd. You are awesome. Giving you reporting rep right now

I'm glad that I could be of service!

I would like to share my experience with the sheriff's office today. I called the Sowal station since it's the only number I know but they wouldn't give me any information. I said that I could hear the helicopter from the house and I wanted to know if there was a crazy person on the loose or if they were doing something else. He claimed to have no information at all and wouldn't give me any other numbers to call. He said that if there was another number to call, they wouldn't be able to release any information anyway. He didn't even suggest for me to lock the doors, just in case!

If a criminal is loose in the area they should at least let people know! Fortunately for us, the deputies on the highway are always helpful.

**Alicia Leonard** · 03-29-2008, 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by Snerd

I'm glad that I could be of service!

I would like to share my experience with the sheriff's office today. I called the Sowal station since it's the only number I know but they wouldn't give me any information. I said that I could hear the helicopter from the house and I wanted to know if there was a crazy person on the loose or if they were doing something else. He claimed to have no information at all and wouldn't give me any other numbers to call. He said that if there was another number to call, they wouldn't be able to release any information anyway. He didn't even suggest for me to lock the doors, just in case!

If a criminal is loose in the area they should at least let people know! Fortunately for us, the deputies on the highway are always helpful.

Thanks snerd. I understand you concern. I called the main office twice but it is standard operating procedure and they couldn't share any info with me either. I am going to talk with them on Monday about getting some info out to the public about what to do in these situations and will try and do a short article on it for this weeks edition. You did the right thing though, imho by speaking with a deputy. They will usually be more forthcoming on the scene when something is going on in a residential area. Thanks for your help and I will follow up on their operating procedure protocols on Monday and get some info out for everyone in case this happens again. Please feel free to pick up the phone and call me at my office at the Herald if I can ever be of service : )

Al.

**GoodWitch58** · 03-29-2008, 07:58 PM

AL--if you can post the public affairs procedures for the WCSO that would be great. I have never known a law enforcement office that is so unwilling to share information with the public.

I'd love to have some light shed on their procedures. Thanks.

**Alicia Leonard** · 03-29-2008, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by goodwitch58

AL--if you can post the public affairs procedures for the WCSO that would be great. I have never known a law enforcement office that is so unwilling to share information with the public.

I'd love to have some light shed on their procedures. Thanks.

In situations like this one I couldn't even get any info this afternoon. If it hadn't of been for snerd I would have had to leave my family gathering and travel for about 45 minutes just to get a deputy to talk to me. I know like hospitals they are bound not to release information unless it is "official" due to liabilities that may arise from the parties involved, but I think this incident brings to light the need for the public to get some info on what the office can tell us in these situations. I'm on it and will get something out for you guys this week in print. I will be asking why the public was not informed and why not when they could have spotted the person the WCSO was looking for and potentially provided some tips if a person saw them.

**sunspotbaby** · 03-29-2008, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by goodwitch58

AL--if you can post the public affairs procedures for the WCSO that would be great. I have never known a law enforcement office that is so unwilling to share information with the public.

I'd love to have some light shed on their procedures. Thanks.

Ditto ...and good luck with all that!

**SWGB** · 03-29-2008, 08:52 PM

Originally Posted by Snerd

I'm glad that I could be of service!

I would like to share my experience with the sheriff's office today. I called the Sowal station since it's the only number I know but they wouldn't give me any information. I said that I could hear the helicopter from the house and I wanted to know if there was a crazy person on the loose or if they were doing something else. He claimed to have no information at all and wouldn't give me any other numbers to call. He said that if there was another number to call, they wouldn't be able to release any information anyway. He didn't even suggest for me to lock the doors, just in case!

If a criminal is loose in the area they should at least let people know! Fortunately for us, the deputies on the highway are always helpful.

Not getting smart and no sarcasm intended.

When in doubt...

I know if a helicopter were circling my hood I'd be a little confused and alert, but I would probably also lock my doors.

**ShallowsNole** · 03-29-2008, 10:26 PM

Subject (the same one who ran on them about a month ago on Bay Grove Road and who has been hiding out with friends and family) is in custody. Not an ax murderer, btw, just had outstanding warrants.

I cannot say the name - that is for the PIO to do - but if I did, half of you would probably just sigh and say, "Oh, him again?"

BTW, always a good idea to keep doors locked.

**seagrovegirl** · 03-29-2008, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by ShallowsNole

Subject (the same one who ran on them about a month ago on Bay Grove Road and who has been hiding out with friends and family) is in custody. Not an ax murderer, btw, just had outstanding warrants.

I cannot say the name - that is for the PIO to do - but if I did, half of you would probably just sigh and say, "Oh, him again?"

BTW, always a good idea to keep doors locked.

Unfortunately...I know the young man. Lived in our neighborhood and my son knew him and his brother. Maybe a year ago, there were cop cars/trucks and undercover cars staked out all over PT. Washington...later I found out they were hunting down the person mentioned above. So sad how he has turned out.

**chrisv** · 03-30-2008, 12:18 AM

Originally Posted by Snerd

I'm glad that I could be of service!

I would like to share my experience with the sheriff's office today. I called the Sowal station since it's the only number I know but they wouldn't give me any information. I said that I could hear the helicopter from the house and I wanted to know if there was a crazy person on the loose or if they were doing something else. He claimed to have no information at all and wouldn't give me any other numbers to call. He said that if there was another number to call, they wouldn't be able to release any information anyway. He didn't even suggest for me to lock the doors, just in case!

If a criminal is loose in the area they should at least let people know! Fortunately for us, the deputies on the highway are always helpful.

The information available to the public will only diminish when Walton County completes it's switch of it's communications to the statewide digital-encrypted radio system. It's an unmonitorable radio system that regular folks cannot listen to. Currently, anyone can listen to the WCSO and WCFD comms on a standard radio receiver in the 400 mhz range. I became aware of the situation on Bay Grove last month because of my radio. I was able to secure my home and vehicles knowing that there was a suspect on the loose in my immediate area (I saw him speed past my house on his motorcycle as I was locking my gate,) I later found out that the suspect wasn't dangerous (thanks to someone on this board.) The ability to monitor public safety comms keeps everyone safe and on a level field.

The switch to the new radio system is costly, unnecessary and dangerous to the officers on the road. While there are currently several areas within the county that patrol cars become 'lost' from the radio system because of being in remote areas, the new system will have even more blind spots (inherent to the system) and be more difficult to diagnose when it fails. It is being sold to local counties and municipalities as essential to disaster and terrorism response. It is in reality a method to keep information from the public.

**Bobby J** · 03-30-2008, 12:18 AM

Originally Posted by seagrovegirl

Unfortunately...I know the young man. Lived in our neighborhood and my son knew him and his brother. Maybe a year ago, there were cop cars/trucks and undercover cars staked out all over PT. Washington...later I found out they were hunting down the person mentioned above. So sad how he has turned out.

It is very sad. Maybe getting arrested will help save him. He has been troubled for awhile.

Looking back, I wish my cousin would have gotten arrested. He might be here today.

**SWGB** · 03-30-2008, 12:22 AM

Non-violent folks can become very violent when cornered. Hopefully this person gets the help they need, but I would still be leary of anyone on the run from the law.