Update on Church arrest from Sheriff's office

WALTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 1388

DeFuniak Springs, Florida 32435

Physical Address:

752 Triple G Road

DeFuniak Springs, Florida 32435

TELEPHONE (850) 892-8186

FAX (850) 892-8422

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

The information contained below is FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY and must be utilized only in an approved

capacity to inform the general public in Walton County. It will not be utilized for any personal or commercial gains.

DATE: February 21, 2008

SUBJECT: Jaymes Frank Fox/New Harmony Baptist Church

The Walton County Sheriff's Office has concluded an investigation that began early Tuesday morning, February 19, 2008 with the arrest of Jaymes Frank Fox, age 43, Tuesday morning at approximately 3:45 a.m. deputies were in the process of doing a routine security check on New Harmony Baptist Church. Deputies spotted Fox inside the church and attempted to make contact to determine his business there at that hour. Fox fled on foot into the wooded area near the church with deputies in pursuit. Deputies quickly apprehended Fox and charged him with burglarizing the church. Investigators then linked Fox to three other recent Church burglaries at Southwide Baptist Church and Westside Baptist Church in Defuniak Springs and Bethel Baptist Church in the Liberty area. Fox's shoe prints and car tires matched evidence at several of the burglary scenes. The pry bar used in all the burglaries was also recovered. Property including a safe and a digital camera were recovered during the investigation. Fox is also believed to be responsible for recent burglaries at children's Home Community Center and Liberty Community Center. Fox was also found to be in possession of stolen sound equipment from two churches in Okaloosa County.