Highway traffic stop in Okaloosa leads to arrest of fugitive

Niceville.comMarch 24, 20241 Min Read

deputy standing near man handcuffed in patrol vehicle

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office said a traffic stop in North Okaloosa County resulted in the arrest of a fugitive wanted in Alabama. (Contributed)

OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. — A traffic stop in North Okaloosa County resulted in the arrest of a fugitive wanted in Alabama, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) has announced.

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According to the OCSO, a proactive traffic stop conducted on Highway 90 near Highway 393 unfolded into a significant arrest when a K-9 detected the presence of methamphetamine paraphernalia, prompting further investigation.

The outcome was the capture of Zachary Talbot, a wanted criminal with a full extradition warrant from the Covington County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama for possession of dangerous drugs.

A proactive traffic stop is when a law enforcement officer pulls a driver over based on suspicion of violating the law rather than witnessing a clear violation. The officer must reasonably suspect a violation has occurred or is about to occur.