City council approves legal fee payments tied to 2021 Wilks case
The council authorized payments at their March 9 meeting of $100,000 each to Tallahassee-based attorney Nathan Prince, who represented Officer Brandon Hardaway, and Tallahassee-based attorney Stephen Webster, who represented Cpl. Evan Reynolds. William Johns was represented by a city-appointed attorney, Timothy Shaw, whose fees were paid directly by the city and are not part of the reimbursement request. The reimbursement for Shaw is unknown as of press time.
Reimbursements of up to $100,000 are required under Florida law, and funding was set aside in the city’s contingency budget.
“These expenses were anticipated by City staff and planned for over the last few years as the cases progressed toward a conclusion,” the agenda item states.
What Florida law requires
Under Section 111.065 of Florida Statutes, a government employer is required to provide or pay for legal representation for officers facing criminal charges arising from their official duties, provided the actions occurred within the course and scope of their duties, were not a material departure from written policies, and arose in circumstances such as self-defense or emergency response. If all three conditions are met and the case ends without a guilty plea or finding, the employer must reimburse reasonable attorney fees.
The city determined that all three conditions were satisfied for Hardaway and Reynolds. Although the attorneys’ total billings exceeded the $100,000-per-officer statutory cap, both Prince and Webster agreed to waive any additional fees beyond that amount, according to the agenda item.
Charges dismissed in August 2025
All three manslaughter charges were dismissed in August 2025 by First Judicial Circuit State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden’s office, which cited new evidence that raised “serious questions” about the cause and manner of Wilks’ death. The office said the evidence, as it stood at the time of dismissal, was insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers should be held criminally responsible.
“While the Grand Jury acted on the information before it, this decision reflects the evidence as it now stands,” Bowden Madden said in a news release at the time. “I offer my condolences to the Wilks family for their loss, recognizing the impact this tragedy has had on all parties involved.”
All three officers returned to duty following the dismissal. They were initially placed on administrative duty pending completion of an internal review by the Crestview Police Department.
Background: the 2021 incident
The charges stemmed from the death of 40-year-old Calvin Wilks Jr. on Oct. 15, 2021, the day after officers responded to a 911 call in the 300 block of Hospital Drive. A resident had reported hearing a disturbance and someone screaming “stop, please stop.”
When officers arrived, Wilks was initially cooperative but later became agitated and combative, according to police. After attempts to de-escalate, officers used a Taser to detain him.
Emergency medical crews were called to the scene, and Wilks became unresponsive before being transported to North Okaloosa Medical Center, where he died.
An autopsy conducted by the District One Medical Examiner’s Office found the cause of death was “cardiac dysrhythmia following physical exertion, prone restraint and deployment of electroshock neuromuscular incapacitation device.” The report indicates Wilks died of an irregular heartbeat after being tased.
The medical examiner also found cocaine, amphetamines, THC and ecstasy in Wilks’ system, which were noted as contributing factors.
An Okaloosa County grand jury indicted the three officers on manslaughter charges in June 2022 following a state investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Crestview Police Chief Stephen McCosker said at the time of the dismissal that “the court’s decision affirms our continued confidence in the department and the dedicated officers who serve our community with integrity and respect.”
5/4 – 4th Annual Drive for Hope
Project Hope Florida will be hosting our 4th Annual Drive for Hope golf outing at the Blackwater Country Club in Crestview. We would love for you to come be a part of our wonderful day as we celebrate the lives being changed at Project Hope! Lunch and Dinner will be provided, so come with an appetite and be ready to have a great time!
Local book clubs support businesses and create friendships
Amber Collins, a leader with Crestview Book Club, said the group’s meetings give her a reason to con-nect with others and try local businesses she might not otherwise visit. “It helps me get out and do things I would probably not do on my own,” Collins said. She cited an upcoming book club meeting at Helen Back Pizza in Crestview as an example. Although the restaurant is well known locally, Collins said it will be her first visit and that she is looking forward to ex-periencing it with fellow book club members.
Mandi Kelly., a local resident who participates in three different book clubs, said joining book clubs helped her form meaningful friendships after moving to the area. “Yes,” Kelly said when asked whether she had made friends through book clubs. “In fact, I’ve met some of my best friends in book club.” She said those friendships have grown into a support system that has carried her through important moments in her life. Kelly said she recommends Overbooked Book Club, Crestview Book Club and Temple Beth Shalom’s Nice Jewish Book Club, citing their welcoming environments and community focus.
Book club members interviewed by the Crestview News Bulletin described book clubs as inclusive spac-es where shared interest in reading helps remove barriers that often make adult friendships difficult. “Book clubs don’t care about age, race, jobs, etc. We just all love to read,” one member said. Organizers said book clubs often serve as an entry point for newcomers to the community or residents looking to meet people with similar interests. While not all local book clubs were interviewed for this article, the Crestview News Bulletin recognizes several active groups in the Okaloosa area, including Crestview Book Club, Overbooked Book Club, Geek Girls Book Club, My Wine Club Has a Book Problem, Eglin Spouses Book Club, Silent Book Club Fort Walton Beach, Spicy Shelf Society of Crestview, and Temple Beth Shalom’s Nice Jewish Book Club.
Crestview begins tennis season at Niceville
Crestview split their doubles matches on the boys’ side. Tristan Cooley paired with fellow senior, Roman Prien, winning their match 5-3, 4-0. Sophomore, Lliam Cooley, paired with freshman, Kai Kellogg. The two would lose their match in a tiebreaker 4-2, 2-4, 1-0 (10-6).
T. Cooley went on to win his singles match sweeping both sets 6-2, 6-1. T. Cooley has swept Niceville in all four years of his high school career.
Prien came close to defeating his singles opponent, in a tiebreaker 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-1). Lliam Cooley, Kai Kellogg, and Brendan Barnard would also drop their singles matches.
“As a team, I was impressed with our drive to compete. Most of our matches started off slow, but by the end, progress had been made,” head coach Dan Byerly said. “I was proud of our team as a whole.”
Kaya Wolfgramm and Kaylee Wayer paired together for the first of the girls’ double matches. A tough loss, 0-4, 3-5 that carried over into Tia Parker-Dahlgren and Brooke Copeland’s doubles match, 0-4, 2-4.
Wolfgramm put up a tough battle in her singles match, but dropped both sets 4-6, 4-6.
Crestview didn’t get the win they wanted, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t any positives taken away from the loss.
“I think we gained some respect in our lower seeds by proving the strength of our freshman class,” Byerly said. “Kai Kellogg on the boys’ team and Tia Parker-Dahlgren, Brook Copeland, and Mackenzie Craig on the girls’ side, all fought tooth and nail for every point.”
The Bulldogs move on to district play on Tuesday, February 10 where they will host the Tate Aggies starting at 3 p.m.
Looking ahead to next week’s girls state weightlifting meet
Pace comes in as the 3A reigning state champions, winning three consecutive crowns in Traditional and back-to-back titles in Olympic, and is coming off first-place finishes in the district and regional competitions.
Navarre, the runner-up in the district and region, is aiming for another top five finish at state while Baker will be in the mix for a 1A state title after winning district and regional crowns. Crestview, Central and Jay all have state qualifiers as well.
Tickets for state can be purchased online at the RP Funding Center box office. The cost is $11 in advance and $14 the day of the meet. Parking is $10.
3A
Olympic
101: Maddy Sanderson, Pace, 275 (1); McKenzie Thibault, Pace, 250; Sara Brogan, Navarre, 220; Faith Archibald, Navarre, 195
110: Lili Portillo, Pace, 300 (1); Kerrigan Densman, Pace, 270
119: Holleigh Bufkin, Pace, 270; Ava Secor, Crestview, 255; Stella Kroger, Pace, 255
129: Morgan Johnson, Pace, 300; Abigail Butler, Pace, 295; Natalie Gill, Navarre, 280; Addisen Campbell, Crestview, 270
139: Rose Shiel, Pace, 305; Vivian Otts, Pace, 275
154: Layah Slaughter, Pace, 370 (Tie/1st); Amaya DeLeon, Crestview, 320; Laela Schultz, Pace, 320; Nadia Rivera, Navarre, 315; Haleigh Shuping, Navarre, 280
169: Alyssa McMurtrie, Pace, 390 (1); Paisley Presnell, Pace, 325; Maryah Eddy, Navarre, 320; Georgia Downs, Navarre, 295
183: Ireland Grimes, Pace, 400 (1); Daisy Dukes, Crestview, 300; Allison White, Pace, 295; Ava Broxson, Navarre, 280
199: Kamryn Pierce, Pace, 380 (1); Mia Woodall, Pace, 375; Gabby Johnson, Navarre, 360; Saige Schmidt, Crestview, 290
Unlimited: Kendal Salter, Pace, 360; Izzy Voisin, Crestview, 330; Krista Tarbox, Navarre, 300
Traditional
101: McKenzie Thibault, Pace, 295 (1); Maddy Sanderson, Pace, 290; Sara Brogan, Navarre, 245; Faith Archibald, Navarre, 225
110: Lili Portillo, Pace, 340 (1); Kerrigan Densman, Pace, 285; Anna Wagner, Navarre, 250; Morgan Savage, Navarre, 240
119: Holleigh Bufkin, Pace, 315; Jacelyn Masson, Pace, 275; Ava Secor, Crestview, 250
129: Abigail Butler, Pace, 340; Morgan Johnson, Pace, 330; Emma Smith, Navarre, 295
139: Rose Shiel, Pace, 325; Haidyn Hill, Pace, 310
154: Layah Slaughter, Pace, 375 (Tie/1st); Laela Schutlz, Pace, 345; Amaya DeLeon, Crestview, 335; Nadia Rivera, Navarre, 325; Olivia Leslie, Navarre, 305
169: Alyssa McMurtrie, Pace, 465 (1); Maryah Eddy, Navarre, 345; Paisley Presnell, Pace, 345; Georgia Downs, Navarre, 330
183: Ireland Grimes, Pace, 445 (1); Allison White, Pace, 320; Ava Broxson, Navarre, 310
199: Mia Woodall, Pace, 420 (1); Kamryn Pierce, Pace, 410; Gabby Johnson, Navarre, 400; Saige Schmidt, Crestview, 315
Unlimited: Kendal Salter, Pace, 395; Morgan McHenry, Pace, 375; Izzy Voisin, Crestview, 345
Brian Out Loud
For starters, we’ve been reminded that fans will turn on coaches in a hurry if things aren’t going right in a football season.
No one complains when you win. Everyone complains when you lose.
On the field, it’s been an interesting start to the year.
Navarre started 0-3 for the second consecutive year, but the Raiders have has shown flashes of potential, with players like Marquez White, Brody Powers and Bryce Wheeler, and the team always plays hard. It’s just a matter of being more consistent and executing for four quarters of football. If that happens, the rest of the year could be a different story.
In the north end of Santa Rosa County, Pace’s team is exactly what we expected. The Patriots have had a lot of success running the ball, thanks in large part to star Makael Williams and a talented offensive line headed up by Clemson-commit Grant Wise. Their defense has been tough as well. On paper, the Patriots are the district favorite—but time will tell.
Milton has been the story of the year so far, winning its first four games after going 0-10 last season. Head coach Ronnie Douglas has changed things there in a hurry. The team has been impressive on the defensive side of the ball, shutting out Tate in a battle of unbeatens two weeks ago. Big things are ahead if this team continues to play the way it has up to this point.
Jay nearly won the ‘War on Highway 4,’ and while the Royals are 1-2 after three games, don’t overlook them. Jaymes Youngblood is one of the best running backs in the area and the defense has a lot of talent. Jay has become a hunter instead of the hunted and it will be in the discussion for a playoff berth in the Rural classification.
Speaking of being in the postseason discussion, Baker is one to talk about. The Gators won their first four games behind a balanced attack, headed up by Justice Baldwin at quarterback. A team coached by Matt Brunson is always a good team, and the Gators have high expectations for the rest of 2025.
And then there is Crestview. The Bulldogs lost their first two games but pulled off one of the biggest wins of the year so far, beating Niceville on the road.
If you’ve been to Eagle Stadium, you know how tough of a place it is to play. The fact that Crestview came back from 21 down is crazy. The Bulldogs are going to have a say in how the district title race plays out.
The second half of the season should be fun. A lot of storylines are yet to be written. Stay tuned.
Volleyball Roundup: Baker puts together win streak
The Gators are 5-4 and ranked fourth in Rural Region 1. The top four teams will make the playoffs, with district tournament champions earning an automatic berth.
Season Stat Leaders
Kills: Annalese Saunders, 61; Katerina Price, 56
Blocks: Katerina Price, 16
Digs: Carleigh Krumnow, 108; Katerina Price, 51; Peyton Hardy, 55; Bailey Johnson, 44; Annalese Saunders, 32; Lacy Adams, 30
Assists: Katerina Price, 73; Lacy Adams, 63
Crestview
Crestview’s volleyball team is 8-8 through its first 16 games after losing in three games to top-ranked Gulf Breeze on Tuesday.
Season Stat Leaders
Kills: Kaeden Foxx, 157; Aubrey Sheffield, 104; Dina Sheikho, 102
Blocks: Aubrey Sheffield, 49; Braeyln Ditrapano, 25
Digs: Kelsey Griffin, 316; Kaeden Foxx, 150; Dina Sheikho, 149; Sara Robinson-Hamer, 136; Aubrey Sheffield, 130
Assists: Aubrey Sheffield, 253; Kyla Fry, 120
Laurel Hill
Laurel Hill’s volleyball team is 4-4 after eight matches this season. The Hoboes ended a two-game losing streak with a win over Walton on Monday. Laurel Hill beat the Braves in five games.
Season Stat Leaders
Kills: Aiyana Dixon, 42; Savannah Riley, 37; Carlee Boddy, 25
Blocks: Aiyana Dixon, 11
Digs: Kyndall Morrill, 92; Carlee Boddy, 88; Savannah Riley, 71; Andrea Barnhill, 67
Note: Stats are based on MaxPreps