News & Updates
Crestview Convicted Felon Charged with Weapons Possession
An investigation into a Crestview area shooting has led to charges against 54-year-old Reginald Bradshaw of 881 West James Lee Boulevard for possession of a weapon or ammo by a convicted felon. Investigators say during a disturbance at the home January 15th, a woman...
Shalimar Man Injured in Drive By Shooting
OCSO investigators are working a Thursday night shooting that injured a Shalimar man outside his Oak Lane home. The victim suffered multiple gunshots and was taken to a local hospital for treatment where at last word he was in stable condition. The OCSO utilized the...
Lewd and Lascivious Exhibition Arrest
A Fort Walton Beach man who made sexually inappropriate remarks to several juvenile girls also committed a lewd and lascivious act in front of them near David Street and was taken into custody by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. 23-year old Marco Lanza Turicios...
OCSO Frequently Asked Flock Safety Questions and Answers
How many cameras are deployed in the field by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office? The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has deployed 79 Flock Safety Cameras throughout the county. These automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras are a proven, important tool...
Joint Effort Stops Suspect after Attempted Carjacking, Burglary, and Vehicle Theft
A stolen car. An attempted carjacking. A suspect running through neighborhoods trying to hide. Quick coordination between OCSO and netted a suspect connected to an attempted carjacking, stolen vehicle, and residential burglary. 30-year old Matthew Teems of Fort Walton...
1973 OCSO Homicide Case Deemed Closed by Death of Offender
19-year old Debra Espey was a quiet, sweet. all-American girl. But the young Niceville college student met with a tragic end back on March 12th of 1973. Nearly 53 years later, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office says the case has been closed by “Death of the...
Two Charged in Sex Trafficking of Juveniles
On December 23rd, Lennys Cotto and Joe Trejo were arrested in Okaloosa County for sex trafficking of two juvenile females. The investigation stems from the arrest of Cotto and Trejo in May 2025. During the investigation, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland...
OCSO Investigating Fatal Shooting
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a fatal shooting that took place at a residence on Kanuha Drive Saturday night, December 20th. Kanuha Drive is located off Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard north of Mary Esther. A 9-1-1 call was received shortly after...
Intoxicated Driver Traveling with Child Stopped by OCSO Following Hit and Run Crash
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has charged a man with numerous traffic violations including DUI, as well as child neglect, after a hit and run on Okaloosa Island Saturday night. A motorist on Okaloosa Island reported a white Ford F-150 pickup truck hit his...
Cryptocurrency Investment Scam Alert
The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office has received reports of financial losses in excess of 1.1 million dollars from two separate victims due to fraudulent cryptocurrency investment scams during the month of October alone. These scams often begin when victims are...
OCSO Operation Dark Harvest Nets 14 Arrests
Members of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit have spent the past two weeks conducting undercover operations designed to identify and arrest online child predators. They dubbed this latest effort “Operation Dark Harvest”...
Woman Arrested for Prostitution at Racetrack Road Business
Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office investigators responding to a series of complaints and Emerald Coast Crime Stoppers tips arrested a New York woman on a charge of prostitution Thursday at a business near Fort Walton Beach. 30-year old Suping Wu of Flushing New York...
Fugitive Who Fled into Swamp Tracked into Custody by K9s and Drone Unit
An Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit, alongside Okaloosa and Walton Correctional Institution teams, tirelessly tracked a fugitive through a swamp Saturday for several hours before taking him into custody off Bill Lundy Road. K9 Beau and Deputy Tim Patterson, as...
Operation Whipslider Takes Down Drug Trafficking Organization
Beginning in 2019, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) launched an investigation into a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) operating in Okaloosa County, Florida. The DTO was responsible for the...
FWB Man Arrested in Gibson Street Fatal Shooting
A Fort Walton Beach man is charged with murder following a shooting which resulted from an argument Wednesday outside Choctaw Village on Gibson Street near Fort Walton Beach. The 35-year old victim, no known address, died at the scene from a gunshot wound to the...
Georgia Tourist Charged in Destin Shooting Incident
A Georgia tourist was arrested after shooting a man in the leg August 17th in Destin. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has charged 42-year old Crissy Wilburn of Stone Mountain with domestic violence related aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to...
Trafficking in Fentanyl and Meth Arrest by DTF
Members of the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Multi-Agency Drug Task Force executed a narcotics search warrant at 103 Terrell Dr, Crestview July 11th. The search warrant resulted in the recovery of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, a firearm, and associated drug...
Drug Task Force Executes Elm Avenue Search Warrant
Members of the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Multi-Agency Drug Task Force today executed a narcotics search warrant at 15 Elm Avenue SE, Ft. Walton Beach. That search warrant resulted in the recovery of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and associated drug paraphernalia....
Registered Sex Offender Charged with Possession of Child Pornography
Members of the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICAC) executed a search warrant today at 2908 Bentwood Lane, Fort Walton Beach. 24-year old Talben Francis, a registered sex offender, was arrested for possession of child...
Three Arrested Following Execution of Narcotics Search Warrant
Members of the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Multi-Agency Drug Task Force today executed a narcotics search warrant at 715 Tuxedo Drive, Ft. Walton Beach. That search warrant resulted in the recovery of cocaine, psychedelic mushrooms, and associated drug...
