On Friday, February 17, 2012, at approximately 11:36 am, DeFuniak Springs Police Officer attempted a traffic stop on a Blue Ford Ranger Pick Up Truck in the area of Live Oak and 15th Street. As the officer approached the vehicle to make contact, the driver (later identified as Adrian Kenyatta Flowers) quickly sped away, fleeing towards Orange Avenue.
Another officer was in the area and stopped on Orange Avenue, with emergency lights and siren. Flowers drove directly at the parked patrol unit, accelerating as he approached. Flowers steered the truck off the road just before crashing into the patrol unit and officer, and continued to travel on Orange Avenue to 19th Street.
Flowers continued South on 19th Street to Bob Sikes Road forcing other motorist off of the road. The pursuit continue west on Bob Sikes road to Pleasant Ridge Road. Flowers then lead officers through the Eglin Reservation in an attempt to elude them.
Flowers continued to flee until he was stopped near Highway 20 in Freeport. He traveled off the roadway onto an embankment, causing the truck to become stuck in the mud. Flowers fled the vehicle on foot, leaving behind his passenger, Ashley Hoover. Hoover was quickly detained while members of the DeFuniak Springs Police, Criminal Investigations Division, captured Flowers after a foot chase in the woods.
Investigation following the 20 minute pursuit revealed evidence of Narcotics Trafficking, as Flowers was found to have been in possession of Lortab (Hydrocodone), Xanax (Alprazolam), Cannabis, and Methamphetamine, along with items of drug paraphernalia consistent with narcotics sales and use.
Hoover was found to be in possession of Drug Paraphernalia and admitted use of illegal narcotics. Both suspects were taken into custody at the scene and transported to the Walton County Department of Corrections .
Members of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, and Walton Corrections Insitution arrived on-scene in Freeport and assisted in the arrests. Forturnately there were no injuries.
Tilman F. Mears
Lieutenant
Special Operations Division Commander
Email: mearstf@defuniakspringspolice.net