SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla. — A man who fled into the woods during a traffic stop in Santa Rosa Beach Tuesday morning has been captured, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) has announced.
Luis Adoni Garcia was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon, according to an update from the Sheriff’s Office at 3:30 p.m. The WCSO said the man had initially fled from a BMW sedan following a traffic stop near Gabbage Street and Central 7th Street.
The driver of the vehicle, 23-year-old Jose Ortiz-Leanos, was arrested on charges of driving without a license and having no vehicle registration. Additional charges may be pending, the WCSO said.
The passenger, now identified as Mr Garcia, had reportedly run into a wooded area. Walton and Okaloosa Correctional Institution K-9 Teams were brought in to assist in the search.
Deputies said a shotgun and a white crystal-like substance were found inside the vehicle. The substance is being sent for lab testing.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office has not yet released information on potential charges against Mr Garcia.
