SANTA ROSA COUNTY

SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Sheriff Wendell Hall

Two Arrested For Kidnapping and Gun Charges After Drug “Rip Off” Goes Bad

On 03-19-08 at approximately 1500 hours, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call from a 17 year old juvenile who advised that he had been kidnapped at gunpoint and that his friend Zachary Edmundson (18 years old) was still in the suspect vehicle and was being held against his will. The juvenile was able to provide a vehicle description and patrol officers were able to locate and stop the suspect vehicle on Hwy 90 in Milton . Zachary Edmundson and the 17 year old juvenile were identified as victims of the kidnapping. William Faircloth (19 years old) and Jerome Simmons (18 years old) were identified as suspects in the kidnapping. Both victims and both suspects were transported to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office for interviews.

During the interviews, the victims stated that they went to the residence of William Faircloth located in the 6000 block of Carroll Road , Milton . The victims told investigators that they went to the residence for the purpose of negotiating a drug deal in which they would provide marijuana to William Faircloth and Jerome Simmons in exchange for cash. The victims stated that they did not actually have the marijuana and intended to steal the money from the suspects. The victims advised that William and Jerome left the room and returned a few moments later armed with rifles. The victims told investigators that William and Jerome ordered them onto the ground and forced them to duct tape their mouths. They also stated that William and Jerome held the guns to the back of their heads and ordered them both into Edmundson's car. They also said that William possessed a rifle in the backseat of the vehicle. The juvenile victim was ordered to drive and he told William and Jerome that he could get them $12000 dollars from a relative. William and Jerome ordered the juvenile to drive to the relative's location to get the money. The juvenile was allowed to get out of the car and Jerome walked with him to the relative's location. Jerome indicated that he had a handgun in his waist band. When the juvenile made contact with his mother he told her that Jerome and William were armed. Jerome retreated back to the vehicle, leaving the juvenile behind. The juvenile and the relative immediately contacted law enforcement after Jerome, William, and Zachary left the business. Upon leaving that location, Edmundson was ordered to drive to a wooded area, where Jerome disposed of the rifle. Edmundson was then ordered to drive to a different location, at which point the group was confronted by members of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office and taken into custody.

Interviews with the suspects revealed that they had heard the victims conspiring to steal money from the suspects. Both suspects were arrested on the below mentioned charges. Photographs of both suspects are attached to this email.

SUSPECTS:

Jerome Simmons Jr., B/M, 18 years old

7900 Block of South Airport Road , Milton FL

William Amos Faircloth, W/M, 19 years old

6000 Block of Carroll Road , Milton , FL

CHARGES:

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON

KIDNAPPING TO FACILITATE THE COMMISSION OF FELONY

NO BOND

Press Release By:

Sgt. Scott Haines

Media Relations Unit

(850) 981-2136 or shaines@srso.net