Press Releases

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Division announced the arrest of Kimberly Robinson Gandy, age 46. Gandy was wanted for multiple felony warrants in Bay County.

The internet is a dangerous place for an unmonitored child. On February 6, 2024, also known as Safer Internet Day, members of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division,

Sergeant Floyd Moore was shot and killed after surprising a burglar at the Turtle Lake Apartments, near West 20th Street and Lombardy Avenue, in Panama City.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Division announced the arrest of Ashley Burgess, age 45, on multiple narcotics trafficking warrants out of Bay County. Burgess, a fugitive, had taken up residence in St. Paul, MN.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office is offering the option of extra patrols to anyone in Bay County with a home damaged by the storms Tuesday morning.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office urges everyone that can possibly avoid the roads this morning to stay home.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office issued a reminder today to those using watercraft on Econfina Creek in the area known as the Econfina Creek control area.

Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford issued a Scam Alert today, January 22, 2024. According to several complaints received, a scammer is calling Bay County residents and claiming to be a deputy with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of Brad Curtis Phillips on Saturday, July 27, 2018, on robbery charges.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance to identify a suspect wanted for using a debit card fraudulently.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a local man on Lewd and Lascivious charges.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office was made aware of a video today that had been posted on social media by a local student. The video contained racially offensive language and statements that caused concern.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of a local man after a report of Child Abuse was filed. The victim was found to have extensive bruising and markings on the chest, stomach, back, and arms consistent with the alleged abuse.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded on August 7, 2019, to a report of four small children outside in the rain by themselves on Terrell St. on Panama City Beach.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a homicide on August 18, 2018, at 5824 Cherry Street in Callaway. The victim was lying on the ground. He was identified as Demetrius Traylor, age 19.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office released a Scam Alert today regarding a new form of an old scam involving Social Security.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest in a burglary case involving the theft of Kent 18” boy’s bicycles and assorted sports equipment from a self-storage unit on Sherman Avenue. On July 16, 2019, the items were reported stolen.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced today the arrest of Lindsey Robert Stuart, 38, of Panama City. Stuart is charged with multiple sex offenses against a child.

Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford released a message today to provide important information for those beginning home repairs after yesterday’s inclement weather

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office received a call on January 3, 2024, from a motel on Panama City Beach regarding occupants of a room that had stayed past their check out time.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of six individuals for burglary in the Treasure Circle area of Panama City Beach

When narcotics investigators from the Special Investigators Division realized the huge amount of illegal drugs they had located last Saturday,

OPERATION CENTRAL SUPPLY SEIZES HUGE HAUL OF ILLEGAL NARCOTICS: 23 POUNDS OF METH, 224 GRAMS OF COCAINE, 140 GRAMS OF FENTANYL.

A team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) will arrive on March 29, 2022, to examine all aspects of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded to an apartment complex on Panama City Beach on August 19th, 2019, in reference to a reported stabbing. The victim was found with non-life-threatening injuries.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded to Eastern Shipbuilding in the Allenton area of Bay County this morning to investigate a death.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office would like to announce the annual Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run. The run helps to raise awareness and funds for the Special Olympics.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest on April 6, 2019, of a man caught possessing large quantities of methamphetamine.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced today the arrest of two individuals for drug trafficking.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded to Mosley High School this morning in reference to an alleged bomb threat made by a student.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of a beach man on charges he molested a child under the age of twelve. Family members of the victim contacted the BCSO to report the molestation

May 29, 2019

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint on May 20th, 2019, from Gulf Coast State College in reference to one of their senior cashiers. After performing an audit, administrators believe the cashier, identified as Emily Batson, had stolen more than $60,000 from the college.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office has placed Insurance Fraud charges on seven inmates at the Bay County Jail after a review of video and an investigation into claims they were suffering from a toxic chemical exposure proved unfounded.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Division (SID) seized three pounds of crystal methamphetamine, cash, and handguns this week as one drug bust led to a second with a total of two arrests.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Panama City Police Department, and the Parker Police Department announced today the recent arrest of David Roger Nelms, Jr, in connection to numerous burglaries across Bay County. The multi-jurisdictional investigations ended when a BCSO Criminal investigator spotted Nelms attempting to burglarize a pharmacy for a second time during the early morning hours on July 4, 2019.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Division (SID) recently seized over a pound of Crystal Meth during a traffic stop. The suspect, Emily Persilver, was out of jail on a conditional release bond for a previous Trafficking in Crystal Methamphetamine charge. She now faces a Trafficking charge on an amount of meth which can carry a minimum mandatory life sentence.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Division (SID) seized a large amount of US currency and four handguns at a local residence. Two of the handguns proved to have been reported stolen.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office is working a drive-by shooting at Magnolia Point Apartments on 11th Street. The shooting occurred at about 6:15 pm yesterday, July 18, 2019.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office was called to a self-storage unit on Sherman Avenue on July 16, 2019 in reference to a burglary.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of Justin Scott Davis this morning after his victim reported to BCSO Criminal Investigations he sexually battered her in front of her minor children.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of Christopher Justin Tommasini for allegedly burglarizing Patches Pub on Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office issued a name correction today for one of the suspects arrested in connection to the Mark Thomas Jankiewicz homicide on July 27, 2019.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man today after he attempted to stab two deputies.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office seized meth, fentanyl, prescription pills, and firearms yesterday and arrested one after a traffic stop.

BCSO investigators spotted a car being driven erratically and noticed the passenger wasn’t wearing a seatbelt and conducted a traffic stop at Sherman Avenue and 15th Street in Panama City.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office, 14th Judicial Circuit announces the arrest of two individuals on December 14, 2018, operating without proper contracting licensing in the state of Florida.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office, 14th Judicial Circuit announces the arrest of five individuals operating without proper contracting licensing in the state of Florida

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced today the arrest on January 4, 2019, of a local man believed responsible for interrupting the radio system of several local law enforcement agencies without authorization or permission

Bay County Sheriff’s Office West District Commander Captain David Baldwin Graduates from the FBI National Academy

      December 8, 2018 The Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded to a gas station at 5500 Star Avenue this morning at 6:35 am  in reference to a physical altercation between two men at a gas pump. Deputies arrived to find the victim bleeding, drifting in and out of consciousness as he lay on […]

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a stolen vehicle this afternoon in the Callaway area.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in finding Jacorien K. Thomas. Thomas is wanted for shooting and killing Demetrius Traylor in August of 2018 in a mobile home park on Cherry Street in Callaway.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence at 9906 Western Road in Fountain this afternoon in response to a report of a shooting.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced today the arrest of a transient man for a Sexual Assault on Panama City Beach.

Tips received by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office have resulted in the arrest of two local men and the seizure of 23 pounds of marijuana and $16,000 in cash.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office made an arrest this afternoon of a man believed responsible for cutting the throat of his German Shepherd dog and burning the carcass.

The BCSO Warrants investigators located Kevin Duane Custer, age 29, at his residence at 418 N. Comet Avenue, in Callaway. Custer was wanted on multiple outstanding felony warrants. As deputies approached Custer, he fled in his girlfriend’s vehicle. Brittney Nicole Wilson, age 28, was in the vehicle when Custer fled.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced today that there has been a trending increase in several types of scams in the Bay County area.

Two men have been arrested by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office for impersonating law enforcement while shooting into a home in Youngstown.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office has issued a warrant for the arrest of a Texas man after he took money from an elderly Bay County resident to put up a fence and instead returned to Texas with the money.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two in connection to a drug seizure including four and a half pounds of crystal methamphetamine with a street value of over $100,000 and about $7000 in cash.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint yesterday from a family member reporting the sexual assault of a juvenile. An arrest has been made in the case.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man today after a judge revoked his bond, and also the woman who attempted to prevent his apprehension by harboring him in her home.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office was awarded the third Excelsior-level Accreditation status today by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA).

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office issued a scam alert today on a new scam in the Bay County area.

BCSO Special Investigations Division and Criminal Investigations found possibly fentanyl-laced narcotics during a search warrant–three arrested.

BHS student was arrested for bringing a BB gun designed as a replica of a 9mm Beretta handgun to school in a backpack.

A local man was arrested on two charges of Sexual Battery and investigators believe strongly there may be additional victims in Bay County.

Three locals have been arrested. Investigators have seized fifty pounds of pot, cocaine,1,400 THC vape pens, and about 50 grand in cash.

An interview with a juvenile revealed two local adult males had been engaging in sexual activity with her. During the course of the investigation, it was learned the second suspect was connected to another case and allegedly had sex with another juvenile.

A tip led investigators to a residence with stolen property and illegal narcotics. Both residents of the home were arrested.

Michael Lee will be performing at the Gospel Sing this Saturday. He currently has the number one song on the Christian Country Countdown!

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office arrested six suspects yesterday in connection to a burglary investigation, and has obtained warrants to arrest a seventh suspect.

The BCSO Special Investigations Division seized thousands of Opioid Pills during a search warrant.

A local man and a Georgia man have been arrested, and heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, and more than a pound of crystal methamphetamine have been seized by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of two local men after handguns and a significant amount of heroin were found during a search warrant.

Employees at the Bay County Sheriff’s Office continue preparations today for the anticipated landfall of Hurricane Michael.

A juvenile came forward to report abuse at the hands of Rene Elmer Rivas, age 48.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the State Attorney’s Office, 14th Judicial Circuit, The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of Business and Professional Regulations, the Panama City Police Department, and the Lynn Haven Police Department have conducted an undercover sting operation and made twelve arrests in Bay County.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office has arrested Justin Drinkard, age 33, of 4936 High Point Road, Panama City, on an open count of murder. The victim has been identified as Jerry Benefield, Jr, age 20.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office, 14th Judicial Circuit announced today the arrests of six individuals by the CUFF task force.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office offers peace of mind to Bay County residents who are traveling for the holidays with the House Check Program.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a local man after he allegedly spray-painted graffiti on vehicles and fences last night along High Cliff Road in Bay County. He also spray-painted a racial slur on the garage door of a home on the same road.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Southport man after he approached a student at a bus stop and spoke with her, asking her where she lived, and touching her hair.

BCSO Criminal Investigations makes arrests in burglary case within hours of first complaint.