WCSO Goes High Tech to Keep Residents Safe

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office has gone high tech in an attempt to keep residents safe.

At the Walton County TRIAD meeting Friday, Sheriff Joe Chapman and Detective Gary Daniels from the WSCO showed seniors in attendance how this new technology could help keep them safe.

“If you have a home computer or an iPhone, you can go on the website and sign up for the community alerts,” Chapman said. “We will send you a notification if we have any problems or burglaries in your area. You will have to go Online to get this information, or on your phone. We actually have our supervisor enter this information from his phone and it will go out to anyone who signs up for it.”

Chapman said Daniels has been trained by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the state and brings several high tech options to the WCSO that it didn’t have before, such as the ability to analyze cell phones and calls made from and to them. He said WCSO's participation in the program puts the information out on the web - everywhere.

“I actually had a call from a crime scene expert out in Los Angeles. We had a photo of a suspect and this guy from Los Angeles had the equipment to see the tattoos on his arms,” Chapman said. “So it’s helping us in was we didn’t even realize was going to happen. In law enforcement, we use any information we can get.”

Daniels shared a short video that went over the process required to sign up for the Community Alerts. However, he did make it reiterate that the alerts are not a replacement for 911.

Anybody wishing to sign up for the Community Alerts needs to go through the following procedure:

• Go to www.waltonsheriff.com
• Click on the Community Alerts button
• Read the terms of use the click the “I agree” button.
• Fill in your e-mail address and zone preference - then click “subscribe to list.”
• You will receive an email at the address you entered to confirm your request, click on the link to accept. It will read “Confirm Subscriptions to Walton County Sheriff’s Office Alerts.  Click on “Yes, subscribe me to this list.”

There is also an option to sign up for text alerts or for twitter if you are set up to receive tweets.

You can choose to receive alerts from your specific zones (Zone 1 to 7) or you can choose the all of Walton County option. Next to the Community Alert button is a zone map that will enable residents into which zone they fall. The website also has information on Walton County’s most wanted as well as videos of suspects on which information is being sought by WCSO.

The following is an example of what you would receive if you signed up for the Community Alert for the whole county. It was the alert that went out Oct. 6 at 4:15 p.m.

Zone 1
 
Drug arrest – Subject was arrested on Amber Hills Way for Possession of Methamphetamine and drug related objects.
 
Identity theft – An identity theft was reported on Ashland Farm Rd.
 
Extra patrol – Suspicious vehicles were seen pulling in and out of driveways on Monroe Jersey Rd. Extra patrol requested.
 
Extra patrol – A fence was cut on Nunnally Farm Rd. causing horses to get out. Extra patrol requested.
 
Safety check – A safety check was conducted on Hwy 138 at the Walnut Grove bypass. Several citations were issued.
 
Extra patrol – Extra patrol was requested due to a black male attempting to burglarize a residence on Hwy 138 several times.
 
Extra patrol – Homeowner on P J East Rd. requests extra patrol due to suspicious persons around the residence.
 
Zone 2
 
Extra patrol – On Adamson Drive/United Tower, a white Ford Super-duty pickup was discovered on blocks with the wheels missing.
 
Zone 3
 
Damage to property – On Peters Cemetery Rd. a garage door was damaged. Suspect named.
 
Structure fire – Flames were seen coming from a residence on Mt Paron Church Rd. Residence was fully engulfed. Bonfire was the possible reason.
 
Extra patrol – Extra patrol was requested on Peters Cemetery Rd. due to recent burglary activity.
 
Burglary – A back door was forced open on Peters Cemetery Rd. Nothing was missing.
 
Burglary – A residence on Pleasant Valley Rd. was burglarized. Three gold rings, two cameras, an Acer Laptop computer, and an unknown amount of checks were taken from the residence. Extra patrol requested.
 
Theft – At a wooded lot on Mt Caramel Church Rd., a wood chipper and batteries were taken from logging equipment on location.
 
Arson – A black male on Peters Cemetery Rd. was seen lighting a car on fire in a driveway. Subject fled the area on foot.
 
Criminal Trespass – On Powers Rd. a juvenile was issued a criminal trespass warning to stay away from a property after causing damage to a fence.
 
Extra patrol – On Highway 78 extra patrol was requested in reference to a black female attempting to gain entrance to a residence. Two black females occupied the passenger vehicle.
 
Extra patrol – Extra patrol was requested in the area of Lavista Drive and Laboon Rd. due to vehicles passing school buses when loading and unloading.
 
Theft report – On Laboon Rd a Snapper lawn mower was taken from a residence. Serial number was not provided.
 
Zone 4
 
Entering auto – On Appalachee Trail, someone broke into an unlocked truck and took a hunting bow. The bow was valued at $500.00.
 
Theft – A boat motor on James Huff Rd was taken from a residence.
 
Extra patrol – On Mt Vernon Rd extra patrol was requested in reference to suspicious activity in the area.
 
Suspicious vehicle – On Fairview Drive, a burgundy Toyota Camry kept driving by a residence.
 
Prowler – On Waverly Way a resident reported hearing someone on her back porch. The Walton County Sheriff Office responded twice. No one located.
 
Theft – On Mt Creek Church Rd thirty dollars worth of homemade liquor was stolen from a refrigerator.
 
Extra patrol – On Mt Creek Church Rd, extra patrol was requested due to a resident finding the rear door of their residence open. Nothing appeared to be missing. Homeowner noticed an individual in a grey shirt and dark blue or black pants near the wood line.
 
Zone 5
 
Theft – On Bentley Rd, two AC units were taken from a residence. Extra patrol requested.
 
Arrest – On Tennyson Drive, a subject was arrested on outstanding warrants for Terrorist Threats and Acts.
 
Arrest – On Hwy 78 @ Tom Brewer Rd, was arrested and charged with Speeding and DUI.
 
Disorderly conduct – On Grady Smith Rd an anonymous complaint was called in about shots being fired and rounds hitting the houses in the neighborhood. When deputies arrive, the suspect stated that the rounds were bouncing off his targets and striking residences in the neighborhood. A citation was issued for Disorderly Conduct.
 
Extra patrol – Juveniles were seen drinking and lighting fires on Cedar Trail.
 
Theft report – A Poulin chainsaw was stolen from a residence on Mt Creek Church Rd. Serial numbers were not available.
 
Theft report – A weed eater and pressure washer was stolen from a residence on Orchard Circle. Serial numbers were not available.
 
Fight – A physical altercation between two intoxicated females occurred on Bay Creek Church Rd.
 
Trespassing – At a Lot on Hwy 11, subject was seen on location after being issued a criminal trespass warning by law enforcement. When deputies arrived on scene, the subject ran on foot. Subject was not located.
 
Theft report – On Piney Grove Rd., an unknown person stole a Dewalt drill and saw from a camper.
 
Theft report – Copper was stolen from an AC unit on Cown Rd.
 
Zone 6
 
Arrest – Subject was arrested for DUI (drugs) on New Hope Church Rd.
 
Extra patrol – A copper theft occurred on Hwy 20. Extra patrol was requested.
 
Zone 7
 
Burglary – Copper was cut from a water heater and two air handlers in an attic on Madeline Court.
 
Theft report – On Industrial Parkway, someone stole radiators, batteries, hoses, and alternators from vehicles. Unknown suspects
 
Extra patrol – An anonymous male requested extra patrol for Brookview Drive.
 
Damage to property – An unknown suspect spray-painted a van and flattened all four tires with a knife.
 
Suspicious person – Two subjects were stopped in Jefferson Plantation driving a tan 1990 Ford Ranger. They were pulled over after going to several residences in Jefferson Plantation asking for scrap metal. Both subjects were advised not to return.
 
Be on look out (BOLO):
 
A robbery took place in Barrow County. Please be on the look out for suspect David Carpenter II who may be driving a black 2004 Chevy Silverado.
 
Alerts:       
 
We are still experiencing a high number of entering auto thefts in the area. Most of the vehicles were left unlocked and unsecured. Please continue and remember to lock your vehicles after exiting them. In addition, please remove valuable items from view i.e. wallets, purses, money, computers, Ipods, Ipads, checkbooks, jewelry, etc.