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Walton County Sheriff’s Office takes kidnapping suspect in custody

Just after midnight on Sunday, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office received a “Be on the Look Out” from Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office about an armed kidnapping that happened just across the […]

Just after midnight on Sunday, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office received a “Be on the Look Out” from Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office about an armed kidnapping that happened just across the county line in Destin.

According to several witnesses, the 21-year-old male suspect from Stone Mountain, Georgia, pulled a handgun and held it to the chest of the victim and made her get into his car.

Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office was able to track the suspect’s location using the victim’s phone and quickly relay that information to the Walton County deputies.

At some point during their drive from Okaloosa to Walton County, the female victim tried to get the gun away from the suspect and the firearm was discharged into the dash, according to the WCSO report. No one was injured.

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At that time, the suspect pulled over near Taco Bell to check the vehicle after the gunshot. Deputies responded and quickly took the subject into custody and recovered the victim.

Walton County Sheriff’s Office charged the suspect with the stolen firearm and transported him to the Walton County Jail. Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office will be charging the man for the kidnapping.

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