Okaloosa County: Quick Stop armed robber arrested, and a body found floating in Fort Walton Beach
“Two separate and unrelated incidents.” It was a busy weekend for Florida’s Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office as deputies and investigators identified and located a man following a convenience store armed robbery on Saturday afternoon in Mary Esther. Hours later, deputies responded to a call about a body floating in the water in Fort Walton Beach.
Beginning with the armed robbery call, 51-year old David Michael Stephens (pictured above,) a man with no known address, was taken into custody on Saturday following a short foot chase. Stephens has since been jailed and charged with armed robbery and other felony charges.
Deputies responded to the All American Quick Stop convenience store located at 100 West Miracle Strip Parkway around 12:45 p.m. on Saturday after the clerk reported that a man came into the store and demanded money while holding a knife to the victim’s throat. The suspect grabbed an undisclosed amount of money from the register and hurriedly fled the store.
An investigation revealed security video footage of the suspect’s 1999 red Dodge Ram with one male occupant in the driver’s seat who matched the suspect’s description given by the victim. Deputies located the suspect’s vehicle in the area of Shirley Drive and Marler Street in Fort Walton around 4:00 p.m. and when confronted by deputies, Stephens fled on foot but was quickly apprehended.
Stephens is currently being held in the Okaloosa County Jail with no bond. His charges include:
- Resist Officer: Obstruct Wo Violence
- Drugs-Possess Cntrl Sub Wo Prescription
- Assault: With Intent To Commit A Felony
- Robbery: With Weapon
- Assault: With Intent To Commit A Felony
- Robbery: With Weapon
As of this writing, Stephens is still awaiting his initial hearing on the above charges.
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Earlier that same day, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office was investigating an incident regarding the body of a young male who was discovered floating in the water approximately 15-20 feet off shore behind the homes on Beachview Drive in Fort Walton Beach around 11:00 a.m. that Saturday. The circumstances surrounding the death are not yet known; but there are no initial indications of foul play. An autopsy will be performed by the District One Medical Examiner’s Office in Pensacola to work to determine the cause, manner, and time of death. The Sheriff’s Office said that more information would be be released as it becomes available.
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(Source and David Michael Stephens mugshot: Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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