Contact: Lt.

Tim Wood MEDIA RELEASE

Telephone: 850-227-1115
September 10, 2019
Email: twood@gcso.fl.gov

GCSO LAW ENFORCEMENT SUMMARY

SEPTEMBER 2, 2019 – SEPTEMBER 8, 2019

On Monday, September 2, Sgt. P. Williams arrested Benjamin Lee Russell (39) while riding
a bicycle on Albany Thomas Road in Wewahitchka. Russell was wanted for Violation of
Probation on the original charge of Grand Theft Auto.

On Tuesday, September 3, Gary Wayne Purswell (48) was arrested on Dead Lakes Drive
in Wewahitchka on a warrant for Violation of Probation. Purswell was on probation for
Possession of a Controlled Substance.

On Tuesday, September 3, Charles Douglas Williams (47) turned himself in to the Gulf
County Detention Facility on a warrant for failing to appear in court on the original charges
of Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

On Wednesday, September 4, Deputy P. Young travelled to Mobile, Alabama to arrested

Anthony Dewayne Russell (54), who was being held by Mobile County Sheriff’s Office on
two Gulf County warrants. One of the warrants was for Burglary of an Unoccupied
Structure and Criminal Mischief, which stemmed from a June, 2019, investigation by
Deputy J. Page. Russell had broken into a vacant building in Wewahitchka and was
residing there without the owner’s permission. The second warrant for failing to appear
in court for attaching a registration plate to an unassigned vehicle.

On Wednesday, September 4, Deputy S. Sheline was patrolling through Veteran’s Park in

Beacon Hill she noticed a white male with a bicycle sitting under the pavilion. The subject
had his clothes laid out on the tables. Suspecting the man might be camping, she stopped
to identify the subject and inquire into his activities. The man provided Deputy Sheline
with information regarding his identify that she found to be false. Ultimately Deputy
Sheline established a positive identity of the man as John Alexander Johnson (48) of
Wisconsin. Deputy Sheline learned that Johnson was attempting to conceal his true
identity because he was wanted in Wisconsin for Sexual Assault. The warrant for Johnson

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was for national extradition so he was placed under arrest for the warrant. Johnson was
also charged with Resisting Law Enforcement without Violence, Providing False
Information to Law Enforcement and Providing a False Name Adversely Effecting Another
Person.

On Thursday, September 5, Deputy S. Sheline was dispatched to the Dollar General in

Wewahitchka to investigate a report of a theft by an employee. According to store
management, employee Kaylum Robin Smith (21) was suspected of embezzling money
from her register. During Deputy Sheline’s investigation, she revealed that Smith
embezzled money on six separate occasions for a total of $1,430.91. Smith was placed
under arrest and charged with one count of Grand Theft and six counts of Petit Theft.

On Thursday, September 5, Deputy D. Goodman responded to a residence on Pine View

Drive to investigate a domestic disturbance. Deputy Goodman learned that Sarah Ann
Krause (30) was intoxicated and instigated a conflict with family members in the
household. Krause was placed under arrest and charged with Domestic Battery.

On Friday, September 6, Deputy S. Alday arrested Chad Edward Medley (38) in

Wewahitchka on a warrant for Violation of Probation. Medley was on probation for
Possession of a Controlled Substance.

If you have any information regarding the aforementioned cases, please contact the Gulf
County Sheriff’s Office at 850-227-1115, 850-639-5717, or remain anonymous by calling
Crime Stoppers at 850-785-TIPS.

Prepared by: Lt. Tim Wood

Approved by: Sheriff Mike Harrison

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