Hit and run in Watercolor Publix parking lot

[Alicia Leonard]

I am curious to know if the newspaper donates space to help solve cases like this one. Wouldn't it be in the community's best interest to donate a free space to the WCSO where tips are solicited? After all, we are talking about an attempted murder here, which I think trumps the importance of a kid posing next to a dead deer/fish/fowl.

Yes, we do. We do not charge crimestoppers to run their info and you would be hard pressed to find a more community minded individual than my publisher, Gary Woodham.

 

[GoodWitch58]

AL,

is there any insight that you can offer to Sowal as to why it is so difficult to get information from our local LE officials? Many of us have lived in places where the police department worked hand in hand with the local community in an attempt to have "eyes on the street" helping solve crimes; especially, really serious ones.

Yet here, if we did not have Sowal, I dare say, most of us would never hear about an ongoing case, or a traffic crash; or a gridlock highway; or anything else for that matter.

I don't understand the thinking behind this.

I can certainly understand that certain information is not available, but it seems that putting the public on alert and seeking assistance from all of us is preferable to leaving many of us thinking the cops just aren't paying attention and don't care whether they solve the crime or not.

Help me understand if you can....

 

[Alicia Leonard]

AL,

is there any insight that you can offer to Sowal as to why it is so difficult to get information from our local LE officials? Many of us have lived in places where the police department worked hand in hand with the local community in an attempt to have "eyes on the street" helping solve crimes; especially, really serious ones.

Yet here, if we did not have Sowal, I dare say, most of us would never hear about an ongoing case, or a traffic crash; or a gridlock highway; or anything else for that matter.

I don't understand the thinking behind this.

I can certainly understand that certain information is not available, but it seems that putting the public on alert and seeking assistance from all of us is preferable to leaving many of us thinking the cops just aren't paying attention and don't care whether they solve the crime or not.

Help me understand if you can....

I don't have the answer, but I can say that we have a new administration at WCSO and a new PIO( Public Information Officer) Mike Gurspan. He's been in the news business for a long time. I have been receiving a lot of press releases since his hire a few weeks ago. I have faith that they want to work with the public and the press and will unless they prove me wrong. Community policing is something they are promoting.

I get just as frustrated over "policy" that forbids the release of certain information during an ongoing investigation, but I can't say that I don't understand it. Some information in a file is more sensitive then other information. I made three request to see a copy of the original incident report on this case and they were refused, even though the victim offered me a copy of his. I don't quite understand the idea of sensitive information when someone in the public already has a copy of it. That was disappointing and deserves more attention.

We also need to think about liability when it comes to a government entity and an anonymous source. I have read many post that were misleading and bad information, especially during election season. Those posters have no fear of liability, while a government office that was trying to get info out that quick might. Not to mention the beating about the head and shoulders they would take when they got it wrong.

I think they handle things like most other LE offices. They are trying to do it by the book. The WCSO has a new website and it looks good. I think the contact page is a nice piece of work and promotes transparency as you can contact the entire staff by email if you have a question for one of them. Walton County Florida, Office of the Sheriff - Contact Us

 

[Dia]

The article has been submitted and will go to press tomorrow night. I hope it will help to close this case up and lead to an arrest of the driver. I will continue to follow the case and follow up if it is solved or if it is not. The information on an active case is slim and I can understand that, but we will continue to follow it, no matter where it goes. Best of luck to you Tillerjeff and I hope you get some closure over this incident.

Is it available online yet?

 

[Minnie]

I don't quite understand the idea of sensitive information when someone in the public already has a copy of it.

Most always in an investigation the report contains statements by witnesses. If the department releases that report and it is made widely public, those witnesses could possibly be endangered.

It is obvious the accussed truck driver is not a kind, caring person. Those willing to come forward and give witness might not want this idiot knowing who they were.

Which is the very reason that large cities have anonymous tip line for crimes.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

Most always in an investigation the report contains statements by witnesses. If the department releases that report and it is made widely public, those witnesses could possibly be endangered.

It is obvious the accussed truck driver is not a kind, caring person. Those willing to come forward and give witness might not want this idiot knowing who they were.

Which is the very reason that large cities have anonymous tip line for crimes.

I agree, but those names can be redacted with a sharpie. As a reporter, I need to see that the incident report jives with what everyone else is saying.

 

[30A Skunkape]

I just read the article in my hot-off-the press paper. Great job, aleonard, very fair and informative. I am glad this story is now on the front burner, and predict there will be an arrest soon.

I was surprised to learn that there are other aggressive incidents credited to the same truck. I was also really surprised that video footage was pulled from the wrong Regions Bank branch!

No doubt Jeff appreciates the ink. I hope the pinhead is caught soon.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

I just read the article in my hot-off-the press paper. Great job, aleonard, very fair and informative. I am glad this story is now on the front burner, and predict there will be an arrest soon.

I was surprised to learn that there are other aggressive incidents credited to the same truck. I was also really surprised that video footage was pulled from the wrong Regions Bank branch!

No doubt Jeff appreciates the ink. I hope the pinhead is caught soon.

Thanks, Skunk. Remember, those two items have not been verified by any LEO. Jeff had been told that by sources he knew. The WCSO said they could not confirm any other complaints about the driver.

I hope they get their guy, too.

 

[NoHall]

Is it available online yet?

I'm wondering the same thing. Is there a link to this somewhere for those of us on the extreme outskirts of SoWal?

 

[Tillerjeff]

I'm wondering the same thing. Is there a link to this somewhere for those of us on the extreme outskirts of SoWal?

for those of you who can't get a paper copy, here you go.

South Walton road rage incident still unsolved
By ALICIA LEONARD
A local resident and motorcycle rider is incensed that the person whom allegedly attacked him with a vehicle in a south Walton Publix parking lot is still at large.
On May 7, Jeffery Curzio said he was traveling north on CR-395 when an older model (1997-2003) light Blue Ford F-150 extended-cab truck ran a stop sign in front of Regions Bank with no headlights on. Curzio said he had to go around the vehicle to avoid hitting it or run off the road and into the woods. Curzio then turned into the Publix grocery parking lot, only to have the driver follow him and hit him twice with the front of his truck, the second time pinning the motorcycle on top of Curzio. The driver then sped away, ?driving like a madman? on his way out of the parking lot and warned Curzio, ?He told me I needed to respect the locals and learn the "new" rules of south Walton.?

Curzio described the driver as a white male in his 40s with longish hair. Curzio said the truck also had a chrome toolbox on the back and he got a partial Walton tag number that was C44. Curzio said he is having a hard time understanding what is taking so long for the arrest of the individual since the tag number and plate were Walton issue. ?I just don?t understand it. I mean how many blue F-150s with that tag number can there be in Walton County? The sheriff's department has resources I don?t have to find this guy. I feel at this point, if I took a week off of work and just drove around, I could have probably have found him by now.?
Curzio said his frustration at being run over is compounded by feeling ?left out of the loop? where the Walton County Sheriffs Office (WCSO) investigation is concerned. Curzio said he had spoken with the investigator the case was turned over to, twice, and ?to the best of my memory, I initiated that contact both times.? Curzio also told the Herald that there were many witness to the event and they had stated that they could smell beer and liquor coming from the vehicle.
When the WCSO was contacted over this issue, Public Information Officer Mike Gurspan responded, ?Keep in mind the case remains an active investigation, so I really can't get into the nitty-gritty details. But, there are several new developments in the case, which will hopefully lead to the identification of the hit-and-run driver, and an arrest. But, we have to be careful that not only do we have the correct person, but also that we have built a case that will get a conviction. We are actively working this case.?

Gurspan also cautioned that the department is concerned that the wrong driver may be targeted for harassment since there is a similar vehicle in the area that shares some of the partial tag number Curzio obtained. Curzio confirmed that statement. Gurspan also said that it was usual operating procedure for an investigator to not contact a complaintent unless there was movement on a case or an arrest had been made.
Curizo said he was just notified by a family member that the investigators had pulled video footage from the Regions Bank near Watercolor to view the incident, ?I understand that they went to the wrong Regions Bank and they have just gotten the footage from the right one.?
Curzio said his family had received calls from other residents that a vehicle matching the alleged attacker had attempted to run other drivers off the road in the south Walton area and he just ?wants the guy caught.? Gurspan could not confirm that there had been any other complaints on a driver matching this description.
Curzio said the entire incident has made him lose faith in his local law enforcement. ?I have always respected our officers of the law, but quite honestly, right now, I feel like the only thing the sheriff's office might do for me is give me a ticket. This guy needs to be caught and I?m hoping that telling my story to the newspapers will help that happen.? Curzio said it was his hope that citizens and other media would pick up on his story and help bring the driver to justice, ?that?s the only reason I?m speaking out.?

Gurspan said the WCSO would appreciate any information the public could share on the incident, ?If anyone has information on the May 7th incident in front of the entrance to the Publix grocery in Watercolor, you are urged to contact the Walton County Sheriff's Office at 892-8186, or the Crime Stoppers line at 1-866-718-8477.?

The Herald-Beach Breeze will continue to follow this case as it unfolds.
Contact Alicia Leonard at alicia@defuniakherald.com.