Crime Archive

Beginning in 2018, the DEA and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office partnered in an investigation into a Drug Trafficking Organization responsible for distributing kilogram amounts of heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl within Okaloosa County.

Named Operation Songbird, the years long investigation utilized numerous investigative techniques to identify members of the Drug Trafficking Organization and locations utilized by the Drug Trafficking Organization.

A mother and son were arrested Aug. 29 near Crestview after one fled an attempted traffic stop and the other interfered with a deputy attempting to arrest her.

According to an Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office press release, the incident started when a deputy spotted Venetia Berry, 62, driving a truck with the wrong license attached. Berry refused to pull over when the deputy tried to make a traffic stop on Highway 85 near Auburn Road around 10:30 a.m.

Crestview Police found a bloody scene when they responded to a call on Aug. 16 involving two men, a woman, and a mechanic’s tool.

According to the arrest report, Jonathan Wayne Brown, 36, of Crestview, went to the home of one of the victims looking for a tool. When Brown arrived at the residence, he was reportedly belligerent with the victim’s fiancée and demanded to speak with the victim.

Two teens and a 20 year old are behind bars following a burglary in the Auburn community near Crestview.

Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call of shots fired in the Auburn community and made contact with three teens in the area, leading to burglary and grand theft charges against the trio.