Wanted Crestview man captured, facing numerous felony charges

CRESTVIEW, Fla. — A Crestview area man wanted on multiple felony charges who reportedly eluded lawmen for weeks has been captured, said the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO).

James Woodard Allen, 39, of Sundance Way in Crestview, was arrested by deputies on February 11 on multiple felony warrants.

According to the OCSO, deputies made the arrest after learning that Mr. Allen was working on a vehicle outside a home on Griffith Cemetery Road in Baker.

Upon seeing the uniformed deputies, Mr. Allen is said to have run into the nearby woods. A perimeter was set up, and Mr. Allen reportedly hid in the tree line inside the perimeter.

An OCSO K9 began a track, and Mr. Allen was spotted. He fled but was challenged by the K9 and taken into custody, the OCSO said.

Mr. Allen was served warrants on 12 separate charges and received an additional count of resisting arrest.

The OCSO said Mr. Allen’s outstanding warrants included failure to appear for domestic violence battery with strangulation, possession of cocaine, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill—domestic violence-related (two counts), burglary with assault and battery, battery, fleeing and eluding (two counts), multiple counts of resisting an officer without violence, failure to register a motor vehicle, driving with a suspended license (subsequent offense), and violating a pre-trial release condition.

According to the OCSO, Mr. Allen has recently fled from law enforcement multiple times.

He was taken to the Okaloosa County Jail in Crestview after his arrest.