A Crestview man was arrested after a tense, eight-hour standoff on Barbarree
Drive on June 27 and is accused of sending emails to Gov. Ron DeSantis
threatening law enforcement.
Michael Pechacek, 49, had barricaded himself in his home with children
present but eventually surrendered peacefully.
Deputies had gone to the home on Barbarree Drive around 6:40 a.m. to serve a
felony warrant. Pechacek was wanted for making written threats to kill or do
bodily injury, and use of a two-way communication device to commit a felony,
according to a press release from Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators said Pechack had made numerous threats toward law enforcement
and government officials since January of this year. A threat was emailed to DeSantis’
office June 22 with a subject line of “death to law enforcement and
civilian populous imminent.” Pechacek claimed in the email he had proof of
government officials tampering with evidence in a child abuse case, according
to the press release.
OCSO crisis unit negotiators and other OCSO specialty units were on scene
and worked to convince Pechacek to come out of the home willingly. He did so
around 3:15 p.m.
“The OCSO would like to thank the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office,
Crestview Police Department and Fort Walton Beach Police Department for their
assistance,” OCSO said in a press release.
Sheriff Eric Aden praised the OCSO’s crisis negotiators and other units on
the scene for their efforts to bring the situation to a peaceful resolution.
