Burglary suspect steals U-Haul, leads lawmen on 50-mile-chase: WCSO

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. — A burglary suspect reportedly led lawmen on a 50-mile chase through multiple counties last week, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office has announced.

According to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Joshua James Cornelius, 40, of Lebanon, Tennessee, led deputies on a pursuit driving a stolen U-Haul that ended in his arrest in Holmes County early Friday morning.

On the previous Wednesday night, Cornelius was reportedly arrested by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia after being stopped on a motorcycle with no tag, the WCSO said. He was reportedly given a signature bond and released Thursday morning.

Just after 9 pm Thursday, Cornelius allegedly kicked in the door at a business off Moll Drive in Santa Rosa Beach, stealing a U-Haul before he was spotted by security in Watersound hours later, the WCSO said.

Deputies said they attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle on Highway 98 in Inlet Beach, but Cornelius reportedly refused to obey deputies’ commands and fled the stop.

According to the WCSO, multiple spikes strips were successful along the route, which began on Highway 98 and continued north on 331 S. to Highway 90 in DeFuniak Springs ending in Ponce de Leon off Highway 81.

Cornelius was quickly tracked by members of the Holmes County Sheriff’s Office, Walton Correctional K-9 Team, and Florida Highway Patrol after ditching the U-Haul in the woods, the WCSO said.

He was arrested and transported to the Holmes County Jail. According to the WCSO, Cornelius was wearing an ankle monitor from a bondman out of Tennessee when he was apprehended.

Cornelius’ motorcycle was reportedly found in the back of the U-Haul. The WCSO said the motorcycle has been positively identified as the same bike used in the theft of the U-Haul in Santa Rosa Beach.

According to the WCSO, Cornelius is suspected of multiple burglaries on December 5 in Walton County, including one in the Watersound community involving the theft of construction materials.

Multiple charges are pending, including grand theft, burglary, fleeing and eluding, and grand theft auto, the WCSO said.