Niceville Man Arrested For Battery in Dispute Over Pride Flags
Niceville Police arrested 43-year-old Michael McLeod for battery after an incident involving stolen LGBTQ+ flags outside Niceville High School. Activist Sunny Barbee confronted McLeod, leading to a physical altercation captured on video. Despite the tension, Barbee praised the professionalism of the Niceville Police. McLeod is currently awaiting a hearing and remains in custody.
Documents: Fired Deputy Who Shot and Killed Hurlburt Field Airman Disciplined in 2021, turned in resignation days before shooting.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has terminated Deputy Eddie Duran following an internal affairs investigation into the fatal shooting of Senior Airman Roger Fortson on May 3. The investigation concluded that Duran’s use of deadly force was not objectively reasonable, violating agency policy. Sheriff Eric Aden emphasized the incident should never have occurred and reaffirmed the office’s commitment to fairness, professionalism, and transparency.
BREAKING: Okaloosa Sheriff Release Call Logs, 9-1-1 Tapes From Airman Shooting Death
Mid Bay News received a heavily redacted police report and 911 call from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s office regarding the May 3 shooting of Senior Airman Roger Fortson. The report, which lists four witnesses and two victims, provides a timeline from the initial domestic dispute call to the arrival of EMS and subsequent actions taken by law enforcement. The names of witnesses and a responding deputy were redacted, and the Sheriff’s Office placed the deputy involved on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Emerald Coast Open Helps Control Invasive Lionfish
The Emerald Coast Open lionfish tournament, held from May 17-19, saw divers remove 11,844 invasive lionfish from the Gulf of Mexico throughout the event. Participants competed for $125,000 in prizes, with winners including VJL Seafood, Deep Water Mafia El Gato Negro, Lookin’ Back, and Bob Brown. The tournament also featured the Lionfish Festival and Restaurant Week, promoting conservation and culinary innovation with lionfish dishes.
Post 20 Restaurant Opens In Niceville As Team Recovers From Tragedy
Niceville’s newest sushi restaurant, Post 20, held its soft opening Sunday night, honoring the memory of ‘Sushi Mike’ Ledford, who passed away in February. Co-owner Justin Trotter, alongside friends and family, celebrated the long-awaited dream while paying tribute to Mike with heartfelt stories and a mural by local artist Emily Little. The restaurant opens to the public on May 22nd, amid ongoing legal proceedings for the man accused of Mike’s death.
We Got Into An Invite-Only Affordable Housing Summit In Niceville. This Is What We Learned About The Local Housing Crisis:
local government, developers, and industry leaders convened for a housing summit in Okaloosa and Walton Counties. Hosted by OCHIP, WCHIP, and the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors, the summit focused on affordable housing challenges and solutions. Discussions highlighted the impact of housing costs on residents’ quality of life and the collaborative efforts needed to address these issues.
Blunt Disregard for the Rules: Wisconsin Man Arrested at VPS for Allegedly Smoking Marijuana At Baggage Terminal
A Wisconsin man faces five years for the sticky-icky.
