for immediate release
February 18, 2004
N E W S R E L E A S E
A fugitive wanted in a Virginia murder has been apprehended in Okaloosa County.
Alphonso Lewis Bennett, age 24 (9-12-1979), was taken into custody last evening
(Tuesday evening) by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Special response Team
(SRT) at a residence on Rockport Court, in the Gap Creek area of Fort Walton Beach.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Fugitive Warrants Unit successfully traced Bennett after receiving information from the FBI last week that Bennett was believed to be somewhere in the Fort Walton Beach area.
Bennett was indicted by a Grand Jury in Stafford County, Virginia last month on a count of First Degree Murder and other felony charges. He is suspected in a home invasion-murder in the pre dawn hours of last June 21 in southern Stafford County, Virginia.
Bennett is believed to have been staying with an acquaintance at the Rockport Court address for approximately three weeks, after driving to Fort Walton Beach from Atlanta with a friend.
Bennett has waived extradition, and is currently held at the Okaloosa County Jail in Crestview pending transport to Virginia to face prosecution. Click here to view the Virginia wanted flyer.
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for more information contact Sgt. Rick Hord, Public Information Officer
(850) 651-7420