WALTON COUNTY, Fla. — A DeFuniak Springs man was arrested early Monday morning following what the Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) described as a low-speed pursuit through the city.
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According to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy saw a maroon GMC pickup run the red light at the Winn-Dixie plaza on Highway 331 South just after 2 a.m. The driver continued recklessly despite the deputy activating lights and siren.
The WCSO said the driver traveled north on Highway 331 at a low speed before turning east onto Highway 90.
Near South Norwood Road, the Office of the City Marshal, DeFuniak Springs Police Department, deployed stop sticks, which reportedly disabled the truck. The vehicle came to a stop just west of County Highway 183 North.
Deputies identified the driver as Gary Dale Edwards, 73. A Busch beer was seen in a cup holder, and another crushed can was on the floorboard, the WCSO said. A cooler holding multiple beers was located in the truck bed. Mr Edwards was also said to have had a baggie containing a clear, crystal-like substance.
Because of his level of intoxication, Mr Edwards was taken to North Walton Medical Center for evaluation and was later medically cleared, the agency said.
He was arrested and booked into the Walton County Jail. Charges include driving under the influence, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and fleeing and eluding.
