Fort Walton Beach Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Meth, Cocaine, and Fentanyl
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. — A 40-year-old Fort Walton Beach man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl with the intent to distribute, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida. Elliot Maurice Bell was sentenced Wednesday, Sept. 2, following […]
14 Years Behind Bars After Fatal Highway 90 Collision
Justin Echternacht was sentenced to 14 years in state prison followed by one year of probation for DUI manslaughter after a 2023 Highway 90 crash killed another driver. Prosecutors said Echternacht crossed the center line, while investigators later found cocaine, THC and alcohol in his system.
Florida Man Accused of Selling Radioactive Device on Facebook
A Bradenton man faces felony charges after investigators say he attempted to sell a stolen radioactive construction device through Facebook Marketplace, prompting a specialized Florida Highway Patrol investigation.
Blueprint for the Nation: Florida’s Immigration Operation Breaks Records
Florida’s Operation Tidal Wave surpasses 10,000 arrests, marking a historic milestone in state-federal immigration enforcement.
Car chase ends at Eglin Air Force Base west gate, suspect in custody
A chaotic day in Okaloosa County: Deputies say a Shalimar man struck a pedestrian, led them on a chase that ended at Eglin’s west gate — and just hours later, the base went on lockdown after a bomb threat.
City: Renovations on City Hall Slowed By Immigration Arrests
Valparaiso’s city headquarters project faces significant delays as immigration roundups in Northwest Florida disrupt construction crews, raising concerns about labor shortages and legal workers caught in the sweeps.
Family questions FHP handling after fatal Highway 20 crash
The family of a Niceville man killed in a July crash says the Florida Highway Patrol mishandled the investigation, failed to preserve evidence, and allowed the driver’s case to be closed with only a traffic fine.
Students, Teachers Fight For Release of Student Detained for ICE In Walton County
South Walton students and teachers rallied to bring home Rolando Velasquez Andres, a local high school senior detained in a Florida immigration enforcement sweep.
Three hospitalized after multi-vehicle crash on State Road 20 in Bluewater Bay
Three people were hospitalized following a rear-end crash on State Road 20 in Niceville that pushed one SUV into oncoming traffic, causing a head-on collision.
Niceville Student’s Mock Bill on Elderly Driving Retesting Draws Real-World Attention, Support from Grieving Family
A Niceville teen’s mock bill on senior driver testing, inspired by a tragic local crash, garners real-world support from a grieving family and state-level attention.
