SANTA ROSA COUNTY

SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Sheriff Wendell Hall

Husband and Wife Arrested for Methamphetamine and Gun Charges

A joint investigation involving the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has resulted in the arrest of a husband and wife from Milton. In early February, the FWC was contacted by a citizen in reference to a subject being captured by a deer camera on a hunting club in Milton. The subject in the photograph, later identified as James Stephen Smith, was carrying an assault rifle and was trespassing on the hunting club property, north of Clear Creek Road. Smith owns approximately 20 acres of property that borders the hunting club. A criminal history check of James Smith revealed that he is a convicted felon. Due to James Smith being a convicted felon, an arrest warrant was issued for Smith for the charges of Armed Trespassing and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Deputies, along with FWC Officers, surveilled Smith's residence located at 5990 Clear Creek Road, Milton, over the past week in an attempt to locate him and take him into custody. On the evening of February 23, 2007, James Smith was observed leaving his residence in a vehicle and was taken into custody on the outstanding warrants by members of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit, SWAT Team, and FWC Officers. A search warrant was then executed on Smith's residence. While searching the residence, officers located numerous items and chemicals utilized during the clandestine manufacture of methamphetamine. Drug paraphernalia utilized to smoke methamphetamine, package methamphetamine, and make methamphetamine was also located during the search. James Smith's wife, Dawn Patrice Smith, was present in the residence during the search and acknowledged her use of methamphetamine. The assault rifle seen in the picture from the deer camera, along with 2 handguns and 3 long guns was also located during the search.

The FWC and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office are very pleased with the close relationship that exists between the landowners in Santa Rosa County and the agencies involved which resulted in the apprehension of an armed felon involved in criminal activity.

James and Dawn Smith were both arrested and transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail on the following charges. Photographs of both are attached to this email.

Suspect #1:

James Stephen Smith, W/M, 9/11/50

5990 Clear Creek Road , Milton , FL

Charges:

Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, 2 nd degree felony

Armed Trespassing, 3 rd degree felony

Possession of Methamphetamine with intent to sell/Manufacture/deliver, 3 rd degree felony

Possession of Listed Chemicals with Intent to Manufacture Controlled Substance, 2 nd degree felony

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, 1 st degree Misdemeanor

NO BOND

Suspect #2:

Dawn Patrice Smith, W/F, 8/27/59

5990 Clear Creek Road , Milton , FL

Charges:

Possession of Methamphetamine with intent to sell/Manufacture/deliver, 3 rd degree felony

Possession of Listed Chemicals with Intent to Manufacture Controlled Substance, 2 nd degree felony

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, 1 st degree Misdemeanor

$20,000.00 BOND

Press Release By:

Sgt. Scott Haines

Public Information Officer

Media Relations

850-981-2136

850-698-4441