NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
March 20, 2008
Contact: Michele Nicholson
Public Information Officer
(850) 651-7420
ESCAPED INMATE FACES MULTIPLE CHARGES
Eugene Smith
An inmate who
escaped from a Georgia deputy during a restroom break in Holt is now in the
Okaloosa County jail. 33-year old Eugene Smith, aka Clifford Eugene Baker, is
charged with escape, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, and grand
theft auto.
Smith was being
extradited back to Crisp County Georgia from Houston Texas on a financial
identity fraud charge when they stopped at Brown’s Grocery Store on Highway 90
in Holt Wednesday afternoon around 3:30. Smith sprayed the deputy with pepper
spray, grabbed his keys and then took off in the patrol car. The deputy fired
one shot into the driver’s side front windshield.
Smith fled west
into Santa Rosa County where an intense search took place. The patrol car was
located Wednesday night. Smith was apprehended Thursday morning after being
spotted walking nearly Highway 90 west of Holt.
In a
statement given to deputies, Smith says he had the pepper spray with him since
being in jail in Houston. He said he planned and executed the attack on the
deputy, left the patrol car in the woods, and spent Wednesday night in an
abandoned trailer.
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