An Okaloosa County School Resource Officer who spotted a careless driver in the elementary school parking lot ended up arresting the man on multiple felony charges, including possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
Elliot Point Elementary S-R-O Deputy Jason Folley saw a white Cadillac speeding through the school parking lot on Hughes Street around 8:20 Friday morning. He quickly made contact with the driver and asked to see his drivers’ license. The driver continually refused to cooperate and gave the SRO a fake name and phony social security number. He tried to start the car and leave, and then took off on foot. The SRO gave chase and used his Taser to subdue the man before taking him into custody.
During a search, deputies found crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia on the suspect, later identified as 23-year old Pierce Nelson, address unknown. An OCSO K9 also alerted on Nelson’s car where deputies located more crack cocaine. In addition, deputies found a prescription bottle near where Nelson had fallen during his attempt to escape, and discovered individually wrapped bags of cocaine, crack, and marijuana.
Nelson is charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute within 1000 feet of a school, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute within 1000 feet of a school, destroying or tampering with evidence, resisting arrest without violence, and providing a false name to a law enforcement officer. He was also cited for driving under the influence, careless driving, and driving with a suspended license.
Elliot Point Elementary was on temporary lockdown for approximately 30 minutes as the incident took place. No students were injured.
Deputies learned Nelson was also a person of interest by the Florida Highway Patrol in connection with an earlier hit and run on Okaloosa Island.
