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sunspotbaby

SoWal Insider
Mar 31, 2006
5,010
739
Santa Rosa Beach
Great job by Bay and Walton and all other agencies.

From the news photos of the suspect, he appears to have acquired clothes (and a knife), most likely from an unsecured vacation rental that he burglarized... (Lock your doors people).

His hair looks just like the original mug shot, not longer. A report had him with longer hair.

Seems as if there was significant confusion and miscommunication throughout the process.

Many parents were concerned and upset that schools were not prepared with better info. Some kids told me the guy had escaped from "work release" and the fact it was an "unexcused" absence for kids not staying is odd.

I also wonder how WCSO staffing was during the time of the two car chases? (12:30am to 5:30am). I know by 9:00am, there where several dozens of officer in SoWal. In the past, SoWal area has been very lightly staffed overnight. If there were not enough officers out working, that could have been a problem.

Glad its all over and that no one got hurt.


Children that did not attend school were 'excused'. That was a misprint by the Sun.
 

John G

Beach Fanatic
Jul 16, 2014
1,803
553
Children that did not attend school were 'excused'. That was a misprint by the Sun.

Thats my point on the misinformation. Sun / NWFL Daily need to do a better job, or WCSO needs more updated reports...as many asked for on Facebook and not everyone does Facebook BTW.

No one is taking anything away from the boots on the ground. Great job and thank you!

My question lies with the staffing numbers that were actually out working in SoWal and if the numbers were adequate at the times of the two chases. It seems like it took a lot of time to get everyone down here and set up at around 9:00am...the actual time line and unit responses will be interesting to see.

If most of the staff had to travel from the North End, that's something that should be looked at. Adequate staffing after hours and on weekends... (The highest rank working weekends is a Lieutenant).
 

Misty

Banned
Dec 15, 2011
2,769
752
WZEP...

It was a long weekend for lawmen, but longer for Louisiana escapee Christopher Stringer as he evaded capture for two days in the thick woods and marshes of south Walton.

However, with the patience of a master chessman, Walton County deputies turned up the pressure on Stringer and he made a mistake. Deputies captured Stringer Saturday night around 8:30 PM after a 48 hour manhunt.

Stringer and two other inmates escaped from the Tensas Parish Louisiana jail Thursday, stole a car in Mississippi and headed for the Gulf Coast.

Walton County Sheriff Michael A. Adkinson, Jr. says things got serious when one of his deputies spotted the trio in a stolen car Thursday night in South Walton. Adkinson said deputies gave chase and the three suspects wrecked their vehicle. One suspect was captured and the other two bailed out on foot.

A short time later, they stole another vehicle and deputies disabled it with spike strips. They caught one more but Stringer took to the swamp.

Sheriff Adkinson said his officers had Stringer contained in a wooded area when a Bay County deputy saw him trying to make it to the beach. Sheriff Adkinson said he was “wore out” and offered little resistance.

Sheriff’s helicopters also kept the pressure on flying over the area searching for the two days.

While social media can play an important role, another tool law enforcement used during the manhunt was the Reverse 911 System. Sheriff Adkinson said it and a close public support was vital.

The Sheriff spoke to the escape moments after he was captured. “He said he was depressed and didn’t want to go back to jail. He just made things a whole lot worse,” said Adkinson.

Stringer had 2 years left on a 5 year sentence for Grand Theft Auto in Louisiana. The facility Stringer and his two accomplices escaped from have had several escapes recently. The Tensas Parish Jail warden has refused to comment.

Stringer will face a judge on Wednesday and be extradited back to Louisiana.

Sheriff Adkinson expressed his appreciation for the public’s help and cooperation during the operation

We’ll have a one-on-one interview with Sheriff Adkinson Friday morning at 8:45 AM on WZEP AM 1460.
 

Dawn

Beach Fanatic
Oct 16, 2008
1,203
519
If at first you don't succeed, try try again. And, that's exactly what a Louisiana fugitive tried to do - for a second time in less than a week.

Walton County Chief Deputy Sheriff A.J. Smith said 26-year-old Chase Michael Courville of Lafayette, Louisiana, was caught during an escape attempt from the Walton County Jail early Sunday morning.

Courville was one of three Louisiana inmates who escaped from the Tensas Parish, Louisiana Jail last Thursday, stole a car in Mississippi and was captured by Walton County deputies over the weekend. Courville was serving time for armed robbery in Lousiana when he escaped.

Chief Smith says deputies discovered a large crack running down the left side of the glass almost the entire length of the window. Deputies also located a small piece of sleeping mat covering the welded area on the bottom of the vertical bars. Under the piece of mat was a hidden piece of string tucked inside the bar. The window bar was cut almost completely through at the bottom with a small piece holding the bottom of the window frame.

Deputies immediately searched the adjoining cells as a precaution and found another inmate with several rolls of braided string like the type used by Courville to saw through the bars. The string was made from a jail blanket coated in toothpaste. Chief Smith said he cannot remember an escape attempt from the Walton County Jail.

Courville was immediately placed in isolation under guard. Major Brian Schultz, Warden of the Walton County Jail said Courville is a serious security risk and deputies have taken extra precautions with him. "The public can be assured he is secure. We have taken steps to see that he isn't about to go anywhere. He's under 24 hour surveillance now by our finest officers and we have him in a a special location," said Major Schultz.

He now faces additional charges of Attempted Escape from a Correctional Facility.
 

John G

Beach Fanatic
Jul 16, 2014
1,803
553
Why wasn't the one time escapee secured properly and under 24 hr watch the first time???
 

Misty

Banned
Dec 15, 2011
2,769
752
AR-150919616.jpg&MaxW=315&MaxH=315

LONG LONG way from freedom....he hadn't even gotten through the plexiglass or the razor wired fence.
 
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