SANTA ROSA COUNTY

SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Sheriff Wendell Hall

Death Investigation Concluded: Cause of Death Ruled Drowning

Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office Investigators have concluded the investigation into the death of a Navarre man that was found dead on the shore of the Navarre Causeway in February. Joshua Michael Whittier, 21 years old, died as a result of an accidental drowning with a contributory cause of cocaine intoxication. It was determined that Whittier had levels of alcohol and cocaine in his system that would have impaired his ability to balance, swim, tread water, etc. The cocaine level indicated recent cocaine usage (within hours). The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office conducted a thorough investigation into all aspects of the case and no evidence of foul play was discovered. The drugs found in his system corroborate several witnesses' accounts indicating that he was extremely intoxicated and refused several people offering him rides home. Due to the cocaine in his system, any type of physical exertion in the water in an attempt to stay afloat would have contributed to his death. The case has been cleared as an accidental drowning. No further investigation is being conducted by the Sheriff's Office.

Man Found Dead Laying Near Water on Navarre Beach Causeway

On 2/18/07 at 0630 hours, Santa Rosa County Sheriffs Deputies were dispatched to the 1400 block of Navarre Beach Causeway in reference to a man laying face down in the sand. When deputies arrived, they observed a white male lying in the sand near the water on the west side of the causeway. The male subject was pronounced dead at the scene by EMS personnel. Sheriff's Office Investigators arrived and are conducting an investigation to determine a cause of death and how the subject ended up at that location. The male subject's front and back pants pockets were filled with sand, appearing that the subject may have been in the water. The deceased subject was identified as being Joshua Michael Whittier, W/M, 21 years old, from Navarre . An autopsy is scheduled in order to determine the cause of death. The investigation is ongoing and no other information is available at this time.

Sgt. Scott Haines

850-981-2136

850-698-4441