Point Washington Manhunt Over

[Alicia Leonard]

Press Release​

Suspect Search Continues​

South Walton County, FL (August 29, 2009) ?

All available Walton County Sheriff?s Personnel continue to search for Matheos ?Matthew? Pitikas. The 24-year-old is believed to be the suspect who led Walton County Sheriff?s Deputies on a ?high Speed? pursuit? along U.S. Highway 98 Friday afternoon. With speeds exceeding 90 miles per hour, Pitikas exchanged gunfire with law enforcement officers before crashing his Dodge pick-up truck off Walton County Road 283 in the Point Washington Community. The suspect was last seen running into the surrounding woods.

Initially at around 12:30 Friday afternoon, a Walton County Deputy stopped the suspect because his pick-up truck matched the getaway vehicle used last month in a bank robbery in Houston, Texas. At the time of yesterday?s stop, Pitikas fired a handgun at the deputy. There was an exchange of gunfire, and fortunately the deputy was ?not? struck.

The suspect is described as being five-foot-six inches tall, and around 175 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. He also reportedly has a go-tee beard. Pitikas? hair may be longer than last seen on his picture.

Walton County Sheriff Michael A. Adkinson Jr. says ?the search for Pitikas is one of the largest Manhunts? which has ever taken place in Walton County.? Besides going door-to-door, personnel from numerous local and state agencies supplied equipment and manpower to assist in conducting an aerial and water search for the suspect. Those agencies included the Bay and Okaloosa County Sheriff Offices?; The Florida Highway Patrol; The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the FDOT Motor Vehicle Compliance; and the FBI.

Sheriff Adkinson also requested assistance from Eglin Air Force Base in regard to the aerial search. The military personnel expressed a willingness to help, but were unfortunately grounded at the time.

Sheriff Adkinson also wants to commend the residents of the Point Washington Community. The Sheriff says ?the patience displayed by the parents of the elementary and pre-school children who had to be evacuated out of the affected area yesterday was outstanding?. Under tense circumstances, their help proved tremendous in getting the kids out of possible harm?s way. The Sheriff adds ?that ensuring the safety of those children was his top priority?.

In addition, the residents in the area provided Sheriff Deputies? with water and other essentials before supplies could be brought to the personnel involved in the Manhunt.

Although the search has moved to a new phase, a large presence of Walton County Sheriff?s Office Deputies continue to patrol the area where the suspect was last seen at more than 24-hours-ago. Residents in the area are asked to remain vigilant and to continue to make sure their doors and vehicles are ?locked? at all times?. Do not open your door unless you know the person, or unless it?s a uniformed law enforcement officer who properly identifies him or herself.

If you may see the suspect, or a suspicious person in the area, contact the Walton County Sheriff?s Office immediately at (850) 892-8111.

 

[Miss Critter]

You are assuming he had only one gun, downtown. Never be sure about something so uncertain. BTW, weapons can easily be made out of many things found around most people's houses.

I wonder if the cops have done a gps location on his cell phone. Hmmm??? Or, if he has posted anything on his facebook page. Sounds like he needs a good spanking.

Or twittering (tweeting?). On the run right now. Lost gun. Dang!

 

[woodworker]

More details please Grace - Area the house is in, what kind of disorder, how you know vacant houses have been searched? I don't think SO would leave a home out of order without notifying the homeowners.

Then again, I didn't think the SO would let a armed bank robber/shooter/fugitive run around family filled subdivisions for this long. He should have been "taken out" in the very beginning. He made a choice with the things he did. He made the decision to shoot at LEO/citizens. Thus, he lost most of his rights at that point, IMHO.

Us gun totin' republicans are getting edgy - .

 

[grace]

More details please Grace - Area the house is in, what kind of disorder, how you know vacant houses have been searched? I don't think SO would leave a home out of order without notifying the homeowners.

Then again, I didn't think the SO would let a armed bank robber/shooter/fugitive run around family filled subdivisions for this long. He should have been "taken out" in the very beginning. He made a choice with the things he did. He made the decision to shoot at LEO/citizens. Thus, he lost most of his rights at that point, IMHO.

Us gun totin' republicans are getting edgy - .

They live off Cabbage Rose, right down the street from us. Said someone had been in the house, some items had been moved. They leave their house unlocked, as do we. We had 4 officers at our door at 11pm. I don't know for a fact that vacant houses were searched, but if they were doing door-to-doors and came upon an unlocked vacant house, I'd assume they checked it out.

 

[organicmama]

I have a friend over on Eden Drive. She was still under the impression that there was a lockdown. From those in Pt. Wash, what should I tell her? She's in her 70's.

 

[woodworker]

They live off Cabbage Rose, right down the street from us. Said someone had been in the house, some items had been moved. They leave their house unlocked, as do we. We had 4 officers at our door at 11pm. I don't know for a fact that vacant houses were searched, but if they were doing door-to-doors and came upon an unlocked vacant house, I'd assume they checked it out.

Thanks - but please don't leave your homes/cars unlocked - ever. Just think - if someone was ever running from the law in our area, it would be a perfect opportunity for that person to get food, phone service, internet access, money(or pawnable items), SHOES, etc..... Oh wait - that sounds like whats happening right now!

The Mayberry Era ended a few years ago...

 

[Here4Good]

They live off Cabbage Rose, right down the street from us. Said someone had been in the house, some items had been moved. They leave their house unlocked, as do we. We had 4 officers at our door at 11pm. I don't know for a fact that vacant houses were searched, but if they were doing door-to-doors and came upon an unlocked vacant house, I'd assume they checked it out.

I can't believe you leave your house unlocked. I mean, even if it's just middle schoolers taking beer from the fridge (hey, they love to cut through our circle drive on their bikes to be "cool"), why ask for trouble?

I couldn't sleep in an unlocked house.

 

[Sand Angel]

I just called WCSO and asked what our status is in Pt. Washington area. I am off of Cabbage Rose. I was told that we should still keep all doors and windows locked, vehicles locked, and avoid being outside after dark. The officer also said there are still deputies in the area.

 

[grace]

I can't believe you leave your house unlocked. I mean, even if it's just middle schoolers taking beer from the fridge (hey, they love to cut through our circle drive on their bikes to be "cool"), why ask for trouble?

I couldn't sleep in an unlocked house.

We lock up at night, but leave them open when out and about. We have a large, and I do mean LARGE dog (who happens to be out of town with my husband this weekend) that is very protective of his home.

 

[woodworker]

We lock up at night, but leave them open when out and about. We have a large, and I do mean LARGE dog (who happens to be out of town with my husband this weekend) that is very protective of his home.

Grace - I don't want to anger you or ridicule you, so don't take this wrong, but with the current situation - please don't disclose anymore information about unlocked doors in certain locations, or who's out of town.

We don't know for a fact if this guy is still in the area or not. And we don't know if he has an internet/social connection in some way.

Thanks.