Bay County Fla Sheriff Frank McKeithen
Bay County Florida Sheriff Frank McKeithen
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call at about 12:30 PM in reference to a reckless driver traveling south on Highway 231. The deputy encountered the white Toyota Tundra at about 12:34 and conducted a traffic stop at about 12:36 at the Post Office in Youngstown.
The driver of the Tundra began to drive erratically in the Post Office parking lot. The deputy approached the Tundra and was able to take the suspect into custody despite the fact he was verbally combative and appeared intoxicated.
The suspect was identified as John Edward Sharpe, age 46. Further investigation revealed that Sharpe had escaped from the Red Eagle Work Center in Jefferson County, Alabama, yesterday. Sharpe had been incarcerated on a conviction of robbery in Shelby County, Alabama. The Tundra he was driving had been reported stolen in Alabama.
Found in the vehicle was a cooler with open bottles of alcohol and prescription pills in a prescription pill bottle with the label altered. Also found in the vehicle was a large amount of cash that was in the vehicle at the time of its theft.
Sharpe now faces, from the BCSO, charges of DUI with additional charges pending. Other charges from other jurisdictions are expected.
