Walton man sentenced for robbery and high-speed chase shootout

WALTON COUNTY, Fla.  — A Walton County man who robbed a Miramar Beach Circle K—and led deputies on a high-speed chase that ended in a shootout—has been sentenced to prison.

Ginger Bowden Madden, State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit of Florida, announced on Wednesday that Walton County Circuit Judge Kelvin Wells sentenced Dallas Anthony Francis, 35, of DeFuniak Springs, to 50 years in the Florida Department of Corrections. The sentence carries a mandatory minimum of 20 years.

The sentence is for attempted second-degree murder of a law enforcement officer with a firearm, two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, grand theft, and fleeing and eluding.

According to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), Mr. Francis was the primary suspect in the robbery of a Circle K in Miramar Beach on June 17, 2022, where he was captured on surveillance video appearing to hold the store clerk at gunpoint.

The following day, the WCSO said investigators attempted a traffic stop to question Mr. Francis near Sue Lane in northern Walton County when a pursuit began.

The vehicle, reportedly driven by the store clerk from Circle K, fled at a high rate of speed.

The pursuit reportedly ended in a shoot-out near the 53-mile marker of I-10 when Mr. Francis exited the vehicle from the passenger side, shooting at deputies and Florida Highway Patrol Troopers.

Mr. Francis was injured as part of an exchange of fire with officers. No law enforcement officers were injured.

Mary Yard, 30, of DeFuniak Springs, the store clerk, and Mr. Francis were taken into custody and brought to the Okaloosa County Jail.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigated the deputy-involved shooting part of the incident. In October 2022, FDLE and the State Attorney’s Office announced all law enforcement officers involved in the shooting were deemed justified in their actions.

Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney Josh Mitchell handled the sentencing.