PANAMA CITY — A Panama City teen is the latest casualty in a wave of gun violence that has claimed four lives in less than a month.

Panama City Police released a brief report that identifies the victim as 19-year-old Jshun Smith, who lived at 712 Maple Ave. in Panama City. Police did not respond to several calls seeking information Monday, but the report says the case is under investigation.

According to the report:

Police were called around 3:20 a.m. Monday and found Smith at the intersection of 10^th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Smith was taken to the hospital. He did not survive.

It’s not clear if police have arrested anyone in connection to Smith’s death. The Panama City Police Department will often, but not always, make an announcement when they make an arrest in a homicide investigation.

Smith is the fourth man to be shot and killed in Panama City since late May.

Xavier Buckler, 23, and Marqueze McGhee, 25, both of Panama City, were shot and killed at a Millville gas station on May 24, and 26-year-old Dalrico Franklin was shot in the leg but survived. Police have not announced any arrests in the case.

Leonard Price, 38, of Panama City, was shot at close range in the yard of a Carver Road home. Police have arrested 28-year-old Michael Davis and charged him with murder.

Davis, who lives within walking distance of Carver Road on East 13^th Street, said he is innocent. He was arrested in December 2013 for allegedly lying to Panama City Police detectives investigating the shooting death of Wilbert Faison, 56, on Christmas morning in the street outside Davis’ house.

On Friday, police in Marion County arrested 32-year-old Stephen Trusty and charged him with murder in Faison’s death. He had previously lived at Davis’ address, and detectives described him as a person of interest but released him without charges at the time. 

DAYTONA BEACH — Investigators were on the scene Tuesday of a small plane crash that killed two people after take off from Daytona Beach International Airport.

The single-engine plane, a Cessna 172 from Phoenix East Aviation, crashed and burst into flames about 10 p.m. in a field west of Clyde Morris Boulevard near Bellevue Avenue, Police Chief Mike Chitwood said.

According to a witness at the airport, it sounded like the plane’s engine failed shortly after it took off about 9:55 p.m.

The plane crashed as it turned to make it back to the runway, Chitwood said, relaying the witness account.

The two people killed, whose names had not been released, were the only ones on board, Chitwood said

A flight student and instructor died in a Phoenix East Cessna 172S crash into the ocean near Bethune Beach on Feb. 16, 2011.

The engine in the Cessna 172S that crashed on Feb. 16, killing two people.

The bodies of flight student Gustav Granholm, 21, and instructor William Bloch, 28, were found in the ocean three days after the crash. Granholm and Bloch were Norwegian natives who lived locally. They were returning to the area from Sarasota and practicing training maneuvers about 200 yards offshore and just south of Bethune Park.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.
 

PANAMA CITY — A Southport woman charged with DUI manslaughter pleaded not guilty Tuesday to concealing methamphetamine in a body cavity while in custody at the Bay County Jail.

Jail guards received information Jessica Finch, 26, possessed methamphetamine while in their custody May 5. During their search, Bay County Jail guards allegedly found two baggies containing crystal methamphetamine hidden in a hollowed out deodorant bottle and sealed in a latex glove in one of Finch’s body cavities, according to court records.

Finch waived her right to a speedy trial and pleaded not guilty to the possession charge Tuesday during her arraignment.

The incident will be added to the two separate cases involving methamphetamine to which Finch has pleaded not guilty — including a wreck involving a death that investigators claim was caused by methamphetamine use.

Investigators with the Florida Highway Patrol were able to identify the bloodied faces of Finch and her 27-yearold passenger, Justin Collins, through the agency’s driver database. Finch and Collins were involved in a single-car crash with a tree on County 2301 at about 4 p.m. in June 2013. Finch was critically injured and Collins died of his injuries after arriving at the hospital.

Finch was arrested in January after deputies searched her Southport home and allegedly found enough methamphetamine to charge her with a distribution charge. A few weeks later, on Feb. 13, FHP got a warrant for Finch’s arrest after blood test results showed she had methamphetamine and amphetamine in her system at the time of the crash, according to the arrest report.

Finch’s bonds for outstanding charges, totaling $64,000, were revoked following her latest charge.

Prosecutor Bob Sombathy will be trying the case if Finch opts to go to trial in August. 

PANAMA CITY -- Police are searching for suspects after an early morning meth lab explosion along Harrison Avenue.

Panama City Fire, along with Panama City Police, responded to the No Name Motel, 1338 Harrison Ave., after an explosion was reported at about 1 a.m. Tuesday. Officials believe the explosion was caused by a “shake and bake” methamphetamine lab in apartment 1 of the motel units.

The explosion caused a percussion strong enough to break the window of a car sitting in front of the unit, according to Deputy Chief Tom McCarthy.

“It was a small blast that carried a big punch,” McCarthy said.

Several residents of the motel were removed while police investigated the safety of the structure. However, no structural damage or fire resulted from the explosion and police were able to allow the residents to return after a brief period, McCarthy said. No injuries were reported in the incident, and police with the street crime unit are searching for suspects involved in the explosion.

An assessment of damage to the motel was not warranted by fire crews.

PANAMA CITY — Two men have been arrested after a nightclub argument led to the shooting death of a 19-year-old man, police announced Tuesday.

Khiry Ross, 24, and Marcus Mathis, 25, were arrested Tuesday in connection to Panama City’s fourth shooting-related homicide in less than a month. Jshun Smith, 19, was the latest victim to the wave of gun violence which has been concentrated to within about a mile of the previous three.

Police were called at about 3:20 a.m. Monday to KJ’s Nightclub, 908 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. Once there, officers found Smith, of Atlanta, suffering from a gunshot wound. Smith was taken to the hospital where he died.

The Panama City Police Department later learned Ross and Smith had been in a confrontation inside the club. The argument spilled outside when Ross pulled a firearm and fired several shots, striking Smith. Ross and Mathis then fled the area in a vehicle driven by Mathis, according to police reports.

Both Ross and Mathis are currently in custody at Bay County Jail.

Ross is charged with an open count of murder, felon in possession of a firearm and felon in possession of ammunition. Mathis is charged with accessory after the fact to murder.
Smith is the fourth man to be shot and killed in Panama City since late May.

Xavier Buckler, 23, and Marqueze McGhee, 25, both of Panama City, were shot and killed at a Millville gas station on May 24, and 26-year-old Dalrico Franklin was shot in the leg but survived. Police have not announced any arrests in the case.

Leonard Price, 38, of Panama City , was shot at close range in the yard of a Carver Road home. Police have arrested 28-year-old Michael Davis and charged him with murder.

The police investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information in reference to the case is asked to contact Detective Joe Adams at the Panama City Police Department, 850-872-3100, or you can report your tips anonymously to CrimeStoppers at 850-785-TIPS.
 

PANAMA CITY — A trial date has been set in the case of a disabled man who said he shot and killed his wife’s lover in self-defense and accidentally shot his wife in the process.

Circuit Judge James Fensom Wednesday set a Nov. 17 trial date for Michael McCoy to prove his side of a story that ended with one man dead and his wife suffering life-threatening injuries. The state’s primary witness, wife Susan McCoy, has recovered enough to be able to attest to what transpired before the early morning shooting in February.

Deputies arrived to find the body of 46-year-old David Walker dead in the yard at 8505 Rhonda Road in Panama City. An argument at the home of Susan and Michael McCoy came to a violent end at about 2:30 a.m. Susan McCoy, 37, was left in critical condition.

Michael McCoy, 44, admitted to firing four 9 mm rounds into Walker and two rounds into his wife. He told investigators when Walker came after him in the heat of a dispute he fired in self defense. His disability limited his range of movement and Susan was caught in the crossfire.

Susan McCoy’s recollection differs. After surgeries and medical treatments for her injuries, she has said her husband turned after shooting Walker without provocation and fired specifically at her.

Michael McCoy will have one more pretrial hearing in August. He has pleaded not guilty to a count of second-degree murder with a firearm and attempted second-degree murder with a firearm.

PANAMA CITY BEACH — A Panama City Beach man has been charged with sexual battery and sexual misconduct by a psychotherapist on warrants issued in Volusia County, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday.

Gerard Lucien Pepin, 62, Gwyn Drive, Panama City Beach, is currently in the Bay County Jail. He will be transported to Volusia County.

Investigators with the 7^th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office came to Bay County after learning he was in this area, BCSO said.

BCSO said Pepin has been working at Chemical Addictions Recovery Effort in Panama City. Officials there refused to comment Thursday.

Anyone who believes they have been victimized by Pepin during his time in Bay County is asked to contact the Bay County Sheriff’s Office at 747-4700, BCSO said.

PANAMA CITY — For most, an unexpected loss of hundreds or thousands of dollars from their bank account can be disastrous.

Though most banks insure against fraud for the full amount stolen, fraud investigators with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office said a few simple preventive measures can be taken to ensure people are not put in that position.

“Even though most banks will reimburse the full amount, that can take as much as 10 days,” said Paul Vecker, BCSO criminal investigator. “Most people don’t have that kind of time to wait. They need money in order to survive.”

Debit card theft and fraud is a constantly evolving form of crime. Criminals create new scams, or technological innovations allow a new approach to stealing card information, and law enforcement races to create new means of detection and prevention.

Because of that, law enforcement officials in Bay County and private businesses meet once every three months as part of their “FIRST” program. The Financial Institutions and Retailers Stopping Theft (FIRST) program meets at BCSO headquarters to exchange tips on preventing the newest forms of card fraud and business owners can inform law enforcement on the latest trends in scams.

Businesses can contact investigators through BCSO to receive notifications from FIRST. A physical business address, phone number and email account are required to prevent card thieves from receiving law enforcement tips.

In instances of card fraud, criminal investigators with the BCSO advise, anyone who notices a sudden amount of money missing from their bank account should cancel the card immediately and then file a police report — even if the amount taken is only $1.

Those are likely online buyers of card information testing whether the victim’s card is good. And if it’s not reported immediately, that information could be making its way along what criminal investigators call the “I-10 shuffle” — a notorious route card thieves travel to remain unrecognized at retailers from South Florida to Texas.

“There are organized groups who buy card numbers off the Internet, download all the card information on a laptop and send out a team with all the card numbers,” said investigator Craig Romans. “Unfortunately we are right off the I-10.”

Debit and credit cards store cardholders’ banking information on the card’s back magnetic strip. That information can be used with or without a personal identification number (PIN) and is typically stolen in three major ways: soliciting the information online, rooting for physical documents in mailboxes or trash cans and acquiring the information in person with “skimmers.”

In Florida’s Panhandle, skimming isn’t a prevalent trend. It is mostly a problem in larger metropolitan areas like Tampa, Orlando or Miami-Dade, Romans said.

A skimmer is small enough to fit in a person’s palm. It also can be modified to allow purchases on gas pumps or other outdoor card machines to be processed while covertly storing the information. ATMs in private businesses and outdoor gas pumps can be fixed with these devices with or without the businesses owner’s consent.

“It still goes through, but the card’s information is being copied twice,” Romans said. “Once for the bad guy and the other one is to actually process the transactions.”

A skimmer can store thousands of different cards’ information to be sold or transferred onto a gift card or another credit card with the use of an encoder. Restaurants, fast-food drive-throughs and any other places where the card leaves the cardholder’s sight are susceptible to skimming.

“You could take another person’s information and put it on your debit card,” Romans said. “That way even if they try to ID you, your debit and ID will match up. But little do they know the information is not yours.”

There are some limitations to a criminal not having a PIN to complement the card’s information. Most banks have thresholds on the amount a purchase can be without a PIN or the amount of cash that can be withdrawn. However, in some cases, criminals have set up pinhole cameras facing the pin pad of gas pumps or ATMs to collect PINs along with card information collected by a skimmer.

Best practices

The best way to prevent Internet fraud is to never give your card information to an unsecured website, investigators said. Sometimes a tiny icon of a padlock appears to symbolize a higher level of security to transmit data. This icon is not a guarantee of a secure site but provides some assurance.

Physical documents like credit card applications, bank statements or anything else containing personal information should be shredded. Incoming documents with sensitive information should be collected from the mailbox immediately, and BCSO suggested delivering outgoing sensitive documents directly to the post office.

“That upturned red flag is like a beacon for card thieves,” Vecker said.

Skimming can be prevented by never losing sight of the card. Use cash in any situation where the card would be handed over. Never withdraw money from ATMs in businesses other than banks.

“Banks have the most secure ATMs,” Vecker said. “They don’t shake around or move, and they are not owned by private retailers.”

Officers also suggest never using a card at gas stations; use cash when possible.

If using a card is unavoidable, ironically, one of the best ways criminal investigators suggested to reclaim stolen money in a timely manner is to use credit cards solely.

“A credit card is the bank’s money. A debit card is your money,” Vecker said. “If someone compromises your credit card, the bank will wipe it right off. With a debit card, they will reimburse you; you just have to jump through several hoops.” 

Tips from the officials

- Never hand your debit or credit card to anyone. At fast-food drive-throughs, restaurants or any other place, you could lose sight of your card, use cash.

- Do not use ATMs in places other than banks.

- Do not use debit or credit cards at gas stations.

Tools of the trade

- Skimmer — Reads information off magnetic strips of credit or debit cards and can store thousands of cards’ information.

- Reader — Reads information on the back of a card for comparison to info on front of card.

- Encoder — Places information collected by a skimmer from one card onto the magnetic strip of another card.

PANAMA CITY BEACH -- A transient was arrested Thursday on charges of filing a false report.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office responded to a motel on Front Beach Road on Wednesday after Brandon Wilson Farthing called 911 and reported he had been approached at the motel by a woman who offered to sell him a child. Deputies responded and Farthing told deputies woman staying at the motel approached him and attempted to sell a child to him.

Subsequent investigation concluded that Farthing had been untruthful with the information he gave on the 911 call and to the initial responding deputy. He was arrested and charged with filing a false report. The woman with the child also had two other children with her and was in desperate need of help in caring for the children.

The Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center supplied the most urgent needs and the family has been assisted in reuniting with extended family to receive additional help, BCSO said. The Department of Children and Families also assisted in the investigation.

PANAMA CITY BEACH -- Police have arrested an Ebro man who allegedly left his 2-month-old child unattended in a buggie to sell a baggie of cannabis.

Police said Terandell Curlee Coleman, 28, approached two officers in a parked, unmarked patrol car Wednesday near Pier Park to sell about $25 in cannabis. Coleman, of Ebro, had been pushing his 2-month-old son in a stroller around Pier Park shortly before, police reported.

After the officers haggled the price, Coleman left the infant unattended in a parking lot about 20 feet away while he leaned into the police car and presented the cannabis to the officers, according to police reports.

Coleman was then arrested and charged with possession of cannabis with the intent to distribute and child neglect. The Department of Children and Families turned the child over to his mother. Coleman was taken to Bay County Jail.

PANAMA CITY— The area’s top criminal prosecutor is fearful the city’s recent surge of shootings might not be at its end.

On an average year, Bay County experiences about four gun-related homicides, but in less than a month a 1-mile-area of Panama City has been the setting for four shooting deaths, which is “unprecedented,” according to Florida’s 14th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Glenn Hess.

“I don’t remember a time when we’ve had this many homicides within a month,” Hess said. “It’s heartbreaking for all of the families involved and scary for the community.”

Panama City Police have made arrests in two of the shooting incidents — all of whom were men in their 20s — with most of the victims in the same age range. Hess attributed the surge in shootings to a proliferation of guns, a cultural glorification of violence and the state’s controversial “stand your ground” law, which can give shooters immunity from prosecution and, Hess believes, may enable shootings without fear of penalties.

Early Monday, 19-year-old J’shun Smith became the fourth victim to be shot and killed in Panama City since late May. Khiry Ross, 24, was charged Tuesday with his murder. Ross told investigators he fired shots in the air as a warning prior to exchanging gunfire with Smith.

Leonard Price, 38, was shot at close range in the yard of a Carver Road home on May 28. Police have arrested 28-year-old Michael Davis and charged him with murder.

Xavier Buckler, 23, and Marqueze McGhee, 25, both of Panama City, were shot and killed at a Millville gas station May 24. No one has been charged in their deaths.

While police have withheld most information in the cases from the public due to their status as ongoing investigations, Hess has been privy to sensitive evidence. And though police have denied a direct connection among the shootings, Hess said video surveillance from one of the shootings indicates an overarching theme of gang activity.

However, the gangs aren’t structured as larger organizations. They are smaller enclaves, out to earn “street cred,” Hess said.

“Larger gangs have more discipline,” Hess said. “They don’t want to stand out. And that can make small-time gangs much more dangerous.”

Hess has prosecuted criminals since 1979 in the office of the state attorney. He took the lead of the 14th Judicial Circuit in 1994. He encouraged the community to come forward with information or testimonies to assist police in investigation and state prosecutors could “set the tone” for those hoping to seek retribution or mimic the recent gun-related deaths.

“We hope it’s run its course, but we are fearful of other acts,” Hess said. 

PANAMA CITY — Police have arrested a man they shot in the stomach a week ago, according to police reports.

David Deandre Harmon, 30, of Shreveport, La., was released from a local hospital at about 4 p.m. Friday after recovering from a gunshot wound. He was arrested on a litany charges, including four counts of aggravated assault on an officer, shortly after by Panama City Police.

Four officers were involved in the confrontation, which led to the shooting — Sgt. Chris Edmundson, Cpl. Loretta Tuning, officer Preston Allyn and officer Rob Smith. Arrest reports released Friday indicate Smith fired one shot after Harmon pointed what appeared to be a handgun at the officers.

The weapon was later determined to be an air pistol.

Police ran Harmon down at the Ramada Inn, 4306 U.S. 98., after responding to reports of an armed robbery last Saturday at about 6 a.m. The officers involved said Harmon made the statements “I’m not going back” and “let the shooting begin” before asking “do I have to start shooting first,” according to arrest records.

Police initially responded to the Griggs Food Store at 2915 W. U.S. 98. Several people reported an armed man entering homes and attempting to break into cars in the area.

Mike Oliver, a resident on Laurel Avenue, said he was awoke in his own bed by a man with a gun who “seemed legitimately scared.” Harmon told Oliver he needed a place to hide because somebody was trying to rob him. But Oliver told him he couldn’t stay.

Harmon then fled on foot, trying to coerce two separate drivers to give him a ride at gunpoint, according to police reports.

At one point, Harmon found Dee Kenney, whose company was wrapping up an overnight job pressure washing the parking lot of the R&C Gas Mart on U.S. 98. She was taking a break in her white Mountaineer SUV when Harmon approached her. Kenney told police Harmon said “let’s go for a ride” before pointing what she believed to be a black pistol at her chest, police reported.

Her car wouldn’t start, she told him.

Kenney later told officers she would have died rather than driving him in her car.

Harmon took off on foot when police began to arrive, entering the Ramada Inn and fleeing out the back exit where he aimed the air pistol at Smith, according to police reports.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is currently conducting an investigation into the shooting.

Harmon faces several counts of carjacking, kidnapping, attempted robbery, aggravated assault, resisting an officer with violence and aggravated assault of an officer.

The officers involved in the shooting were placed on leave to undergo critical incident meetings, as per PCPD policy, to establish none were emotionally setback by the shooting. All four officers are expected to return to duty Sunday, police reported. 

PANAMA CITY — As a lieutenant in the Bay County Sheriff’s Office warrants division, Joe Smiley closed cell doors on criminals with nothing left to lose in life — all while he strived to open doors in his own.

Smiley became a captain and warrants division commander this month. He is the first black officerto obtain the rank of captain in the BCSO’s history.

“I had a dream,” Smiley said. “And following that dream, doors began to open up for me. Through the struggles, I kept on saying: ‘I can make it.’ ”

Smiley has worked his way up through the ranks of BCSO for nearly a quarter of a century.

When he transferred from an auxiliary officer position with the Panama City Beach police to the BCSO in 1990, he was the only black man on the force. He followed in the footsteps of several black role models involved in county law enforcement, but at that time he was alone.

Smiley served as a deputy for 10 years before transferring to the warrants division, where he has been since.

Every day Smiley tracked down people on the run from charges — ranging from murder to drug trafficking to bank robbery — that would send them to jail for a long time, if not the rest of their life.

“These are some bad people,” Smiley said. “It’s very dangerous because a lot of them are on their way to prison. They have nothing to lose.”

Smiley climbed in rank and received honors for his service as the racial diversity within the agency continued to grow. Shortly before he was promoted to sergeant in 2006, five black men served as deputies. And just after he reached the rank of lieutenant in 2008, the BCSO expanded to 16 black male deputies, two black female deputies, 28 black male corrections officers and 16 black female corrections officers.

In total, the BCSO employs 62 black law enforcement officers.

These days, Smiley said, race is not a factor in the BCSO. When one officer is hurt or in danger, no others stop to make sure their skin tone is similar to their own. They react and help one another, and that is the way it should be, Smiley said.

“That was the goal, and I thank God I got to see my dream,” Smiley said.

A man driving a 2001 Chrysler Sebring on Front Beach Road near Moylan road struck two bicyclists sending them both to the hospital at about 11:15 p.m. Sunday, Florida Highway Patrol officials wrote in a news release.

The bicyclists are foreign exchange students. One of them has critical head injuries and is being treated at a local hospital. The other is in stable condition at a local hospital, troopers wrote. Their identities are being withheld until their families in China are notified, troopers added.

The driver, 46-year-old old Rodolfo Santiago Espanola, was charged with two counts of DUI with serious bodily injury, DUi with property damage, leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury and failure to immediately report a crash.  

PANAMA CITY BEACH -- Police arrested and charged a Tennessee man this weekend after receiving complaints from guests at a local motel.

Panama City Beach Police reported Joe Coffee, 66, of Lexington, Tenn. was charged with lewd and lascivious exhibition, according to a news release. Several guests had reported seeing Coffee standing on a balcony at the Chateau Motel exposing himself, police reported. The news release stated guests, including children, were at the nearby pool at the time.

Coffee was taken to the Bay County Jail.

GRACEVILLE -- The Florida Highway Patrol was investigating a fatal car crash Monday night in northern Holmes County.

According to the FHP website, the accident occurred on Selma Church Road at Franklin Road near Graceville. The crash was reported at 7:30 p.m. and troopers arrived at the scene nearly 30 minutes later.

FHP had not released a report on the crash as of 9 p.m. Monday, so other details were not unavailable.

BONIFAY - A 17-year-old Bonifay resident was killed in a single vehicle crash Monday night, according to a news release from the Florida Highway Patrol. 

A 1993 Honda Accord was northbound on Selma Church Road in Holmes County when Austin Michael Martin lost control of the car which began rotating, entered a ditch, collided with an embankment and then overturned, the news release stated. Martin was ejected from the vehicle. His passenger, 14-year-old Jamie J. Laster Jr., suffered minor injuries, troopers wrote. 

The incident is under investigation.

CHIPLEY — Two Alabama men have been indicted in the April 19 slaying of retired Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission game warden James William Shores.

The indictment was handed down Monday by a Washington County grand jury.

Grand jurors found probable cause that Zachary Taylor Wood, 23, and Dillon Scott Rafsky, 21, both of Geneva, committed first-degree murder, burglary while armed and robbery while armed.

A panel of senior prosecutors with the State Attorney’s Office will meet within the next few months to review the case and determine whether it meets the statutory requirements to pursue the death penalty.

Shores, 66, of 2754 Dauphin Road, was found at his family’s 2842 Johnson Road homestead after the Alabama Bureau of Investigation notified the Washington County Sheriff’s Office that a vehicle connected to the April 19 shooting of an Alabama state trooper was registered to Shores. The trooper in that case, Marcel Phillips, was treated and released from a Dothan, Ala., hospital for injuries obtained during a gunfight that took place when he stopped the suspects for speeding.

Officers discovered Shores’ body while performing a welfare check of his property.

Investigators said Wood and Rafsky were “out mudding” in a Jeep stolen from Woods’ girlfriend when they bogged down near Shores’ home. The suspects allegedly ransacked the house in what Washington County Sheriff Bobby Haddock referred to as a “crime of opportunity” and were trying to free the Jeep when Shores arrived and told them to get off the property.

The two men then followed Shores to the back of the house, where they beat him with a garden hoe, bound his hands and feet, and left him face down in the grass, authorities report. After attempting and failing to light the still-living Shores on fire, the men allegedly killed him with a shotgun blast to the back of the head before stealing his 2011 Toyota Camry.

PANAMA CITY -- During the last few months the Bay County Sheriff’s Office has received an increasing number of complaints from people who discovered someone had used their information to obtain unemployment benefits.

Victims became aware of the problem when checking their credit and learned their addresses and personal financial information had been changed.

Investigators with the BCSO have contacted the Unemployment Fraud Department about these complaints. Anyone who believes they have been victimized in this manner should call 1-800-767-4231 or contact BCSO.

BCSO encourages everyone to safeguard their identity information by diligently shredding unwanted credit card applications and financial paperwork before throwing these items into the trash.

PANAMA CITY -- A Panama City man has been arrested and charged with setting his ex-girlfriend’s home on fire with a firebomb, the Panama City Police Department announced Tuesday.

David Addison, 36, was charged with arson of an occupied structure.

The arrest stems from an investigation of a fire on June 9 at 905 Sherman Ave. Detectives and Florida State Fire Marshal investigators determined that Addison manufactured a firebomb that he used to set fire to a residence that was occupied by his ex-girlfriend and her two children, police said. The residence sustained minor damage and no one was injured.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information in reference to this case is asked to contact Detective Tony Phinney at the Panama City Police Department, 850-872-3100, or you can report your tips anonymously to CrimeStoppers at 850-785-TIPS.