PANAMA CITY — A 33-year-old man was found dead from a gunshot wound Tuesday night in a home at 2502 Michigan Court, according to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies found Steven Justin Ayers in the home after they received a 911 call at 6:12 p.m. about a shooting, the sheriff’s office reported in a news release.

Ayers’ family, including a 3-day-old child, was home at the time, according to the news release. A search of the area was conducted and deputies detained one person for questioning.

The body will be turned over to the medical examiner's office for an autopsy. The BCSO Crime Scene Unit will conduct a forensic examination of the scene, and details will be released as the investigation continues.

PANAMA CITY — Investigators looking into whether a Volusia County psychotherapist arrested in Bay County last week on sex crime charges had victimized anyone at a local treatment facility where he worked have found none.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday arrested 62-year-old Gerard Pepin on a warrant issued in Volusia County charging him with two counts of sexual battery by a psychotherapist. He had been working at a Salvation Army clinic in 2011, when he allegedly coerced a young female patient to perform sex acts.

Because Pepin had worked at Chemical Addictions Recovery Effort, Inc., or CARE, in Callaway, investigators worried he might have victimized locals during his time here, but as of Wednesday afternoon no local victims had come forward, said Maj. Tommy Ford with the BCSO.

“I think the position he had [at CARE] would not have provided the same opportunity,” Ford said.

At CARE, Pepin was an evaluator and instructor in the DUI program, said Human Resources and Operations Manager Delbert Horton. He would have dealt with people who had been arrested for DUI, and he would not have had repeat contact with clients, Horton said.

“That position was not a counselor position,” Horton said.

In Daytona Beach, Pepin worked as a clinical supervisor. The victim in the case for which he is charged told police Pepin caught her violating the rehab facility’s rules and promised not to report the violation if she performed a sex act for his benefit. 

MALONE -- A Bonifay logging truck driver died Wednesday when he crashed his truck in Malone, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Clyde P. Ellis, 52, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash around 12:30 p.m. on State 2 east of State 71. His truck passed through the intersection with 11^th Street, drifted onto the shoulder and hit a utility pole and a traffic sign before rolling over onto its side.

The truck was loaded at the time. The crashed blocked the roadway Wednesday afternoon.

The FHP is investigating the crash.

A new father is dead after what appeared to be a bizarre, accidental shooting Tuesday night.

Steven Justin Ayers, 33, and his wife had gathered family members to celebrate the homecoming of their 3-day-old baby — born on Father’s Day. But the celebration at 2502 Michigan Court ended shortly after 6 p.m. when a stray bullet entered the home from more than 200 feet away, struck Ayers in the back of the head and killed him instantly.

Moments earlier, Charles Edward Shisler, 62, had picked up a loaded 9mm pistol in his residence, adjacent to the Ayers’ home, and the gun discharged. Shisler was in his backyard at 3708 W. 25th St. by the time Bay County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived minutes after the shooting, according to arrest reports.

 PHOTO GALLERY

Shisler was initially uncooperative with deputies and “extremely belligerent,” according to arrest reports. While in custody, waiving his right to remain silent, Shisler told officers the shooting was accidental.

“The damn gun doesn’t usually shoot,” Shisler’s arrest report quoted him as saying. “You have to squeeze the hell out of the trigger to shoot it.”

Shisler told deputies he tried to pick up the gun by its trigger, but it fired a hole through his window screen. He later told deputies he hid the gun under his mattress. A blood test taken more than four hours after the incident showed Shisler had a blood alcohol content of 0.079, deputies reported.

A bullet hole was found in the Ayers’ rear sliding glass door and led officers to Shisler’s home, where the shot was allegedly fired, BCSO said.

‘One-in-infinity’ odds

Investigators Wednesday morning were processing the trajectory of the bullet, which traveled more than 200 feet — through Shisler’s window screen, about 60 feet of medium-density woods, the Ayers’ back porch glass door and into their home — before striking Ayers.

“The odds, I’d guess, are 1 in infinity,” said BCSO Maj. Tommy Ford. “This was just tragic.”

BCSO recovered the handgun believed to be used in the shooting, but its magazine had not been located, Ford said.

The sheriff’s office was called to Shisler’s house on March 30 to investigate a report of possible gunshots fired. An investigators determined the gunshots were fireworks. There were no reports of conflict between the neighbors, Ford said.

Shisler was arrested and charged with manslaughter and felon in possession of a firearm. He had a previous felony conviction for carrying a concealed firearm from 2006.

Musician

Ayers, a musician and guitar teacher, had grieving friends pour into the store where he and his wife worked and gave music lessons for about 20 years. Ayers taught lessons at A Beat Better Music in downtown Panama City and played several venues throughout the Panhandle with The Ayers, his band. Jessica Ayers, his wife, sang lead vocals in the band and worked alongside him at the store.

The couple had not only just had their first child, but also recently bought the home in September of last year to raise the family.

Ayers started taking lessons at the music store when he was about 14 years old, then turned around and returned the lessons to many local musicians just starting out. He had about 30 people he was teaching at the time of his death, said co-worker Larry Farmer.

“He was open to every student no matter their ability level,” Farmer said. “He had a good way of inspiring his students. He had a passion for music and was very talented.”

Ayers had taken the week off to get the baby settled into his new home. Co-workers at A Beat Better solely were at the store Wednesday to embrace the grieving friends Ayers had inspired throughout the years.

“He’s going to be deeply, deeply missed,” Farmer said.

State prosecutors requested Shisler’s combined bond be set at $500,000 during his first appearance Wednesday because of concerns he might be a flight risk. Judge Timothy Campbell set his bond at $75,000 after Shisler stated he’d been a resident of Bay County for about 30 years.

An earlier version of this story is posted below:

PANAMA CITY — A new father is dead after what appears to be an accidental shooting Tuesday night.

Steven Justin Ayers, 33, and his wife had gathered family members to celebrate the homecoming of their 3-day-old baby — born on Father’s Day. But the celebration at 2502 Michigan Court ended shortly after 6 p.m. when a stray bullet entered the home, struck Ayers in the back of the head and killed him.

Moments earlier, Charles Edward Shisler, 62, had picked up a loaded 9mm pistol in his residence, adjacent to the Ayers’ home, when the gun discharged. Shisler was on his porch at 3708 W. 25th St. when Bay County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived minutes after the shooting, according to arrest reports.

Shisler was initially uncooperative with deputies and “belligerent,” according to arrest reports. While in custody, waiving his right to remain silent, Shisler told officers the shooting was accidental.

“The damn gun doesn’t usually shoot,” Shisler’s arrest report quoted him as saying. “You have to squeeze the hell out of the trigger to shoot it.”

Shisler told deputies he tried to pick up the gun by its trigger, but it fired a hole through his screen. He later told deputies he hid the gun under his mattress. A blood test taken more than four hours after the incident showed Shisler had a blood alcohol content of 0.079, deputies reported.

Shilser was arrested and charged with manslaughter and felon in possession of a firearm. He had a previous felony conviction for carrying a concealed firearm from 2006.

Ayers, a musician and guitar teacher, had several comments and condolences on his Facebook page from friends and former students. Ayers taught lessons at D & H Music in downtown Panama City and played several venues throughout the Panhandle with The Ayers, his band.

Ayers’ body has been turned over to the medical examiner’s office for autopsy. The BCSO Crime Scene Unit will conduct a forensic examination of the scene.

The investigation was continuing Wednesday.

Check back later Wednesday for updates.

PANAMA CITY BEACH - A Panama City Beach man is in jail after allegedly robbing a resident at the end of a knife.

Timothy Dickens, 40, has been arrested and charged with home invasion robbery following the incident Wednesday at about 11:30 p.m.

Dickens, Panama City Beach resident, was reported to have forcibly entered a Panama City Beach home, held the homeowner at knifepoint and then stole several household good from a residence on Guava Avenue. Deputies with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and PCB police later found Dickens in possession of the stolen property. Dickens was taken to Bay County Jail.
 

PANAMA CITY -- The former director of St. Andrews’ marina, who has been accused of misusing public funds, waived her right to speedy trial Thursday during a pretrial conference.

Susan Payne, 49, is charged with 12 counts of grand theft — 11 counts stem from money she allegedly took from the marina by taking payments for boat slip rentals, and one count stems from her alleged theft of a $3,500 commercial freezer. She also faces one count of witness tampering.

Payne was fired in September as the marina’s dock master after city officials found numerous deficiencies in her job performance. Records indicate she created a hostile work environment, lied to supervisors or the public, used city resources for personal gain and falsified documents.

The criminal complaints allege Payne pocketed $3,948 intended as payment for slip rentals, and then “altered or circumvented” accounting procedures to balance the marina’s books in, presumably, an attempt conceal the theft. Payne is accused of doing this 11 times, collecting somewhere between $300 and $5,000 each time.

Payne is currently out on a bond of $15,000.

PANAMA CITY — A school bus aide was fired after school administrators watched bus video showing her using force on an 8-year-old special needs child last month, according to a police report.

A Bay District Schools bus video shows former substitute bus aide Elaine Edwards, 57, allegedly grabbing a St. Andrew School third-grader “by the arm to move her to a different seat” and “grabbing the child for a second time,” the Panama City Police report quotes Department of Children and Families caseworker Heather Ehle as saying.

“It doesn’t show the child doing anything wrong to be made to move in the first place,” Ehle stated in the police report after viewing the video.

The child “sustained bruising to her upper left arm,” the report states.

Amanda Douglass, 28, wants to press battery charges because the child “deserves justice.”

The police investigation is not complete and no charges have been filed.

“No child deserves to be handled roughly or abused,” Douglass said in an interview last week. “Children should be safe on their way to school and coming home.”

Douglass said she feels as though Edwards “intentionally” used excessive force on her daughter and parents should be allowed to view videos of their child on school buses upon request.

“Some kids are deaf or mute on these buses; they can’t communicate what’s happening,” she added. “I want to know that (my daughter) is not afraid, that she feels safe when she goes to school.”

Douglass nor her live-in fiancée, 32-year-old Gerald Breen, who has been in the child’s life since she was a year old, according to Douglass, have been permitted to see the video, which, for Breen, is best, he said.

“I can’t take nobody hurting my babies; I just don’t want to see it,” Breen said. “If it’s real and DCF found it, that’s good enough.”

School bus videos are viewable by law enforcement only, according to school district security chief Mike Jones.

“The general public cannot see those, parents cannot see those, only law enforcement ... without a subpoena through our office,” he said. “And if they are to be used in the court by parents and attorneys, they can subpoena those videos.”

School district officials declined to comment on the incident.Bob Downin, transportation director, said he is familiar with this case but cannot comment because the case is “in litigation.” However, the school district failed to provide documentation proving the incident has moved forward to the litigation process.

Personnel files don’t show any prior complaints filed against Edwards, who has worked as a bus aide since 2009. A May 27 email from Human Resources Director Sharon Michalik to a number of Bay employees states Edwards was to be terminated immediately and could no longer work as a substitute “in any capacity in the future.”

The email was filed in Edwards’ personnel file. A formal letter of termination is not given to substitutes, Michalik said.

Edwards had worked at the district as a substitute bus aide, teacher and food service worker.

In an email to The News Herald, Michalik wasn’t clear about the possibility of the district hiring Edwards in another capacity outside of substituting.

“She is not eligible for rehire at this time,” she wrote.

The incident occurred about 2:30 p.m. May 22, according to the PCPD police report.

Edwards couldn’t be reached for comment for this story.

Behind a pair of light-pink framed glasses, the 8-year-old child bashfully glanced up at her mom at their beach home last week. She tugged at her arm, signaling she wanted to go upstairs to play a computer game, while her 5-year-old brother, wearing a pair of his dad’s painters paints, quietly whined for his mother’s attention.

The 5-year-old is special needs as well.

“It’s not an easy job” to raise special needs children, Douglass said. “But you learn to love and accept the children’s behavior and work around their disability and help them to move forward.

“God never gives you something you can’t handle,” she added. “I take it one day at a time.”

WEST BAY -- A Bay County man was arrested Thursday on charges of impersonating a law enforcement officer after an incident in the West Bay area, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.

Arrested was Luke Eric Kirkland, 35, 15251 Pine Circle, Panama City Beach.

BCSO was contacted on Saturday by three people who said they were parked by the side of Pine Circle when they heard what sounded like a gunshot. A man driving a white truck drove up and parked his truck to block them and turned on a set of blue lights, like those used by law enforcement, for a few seconds. The man told them he was an undercover law enforcement officer and they needed to leave the area. After a brief conversation, he drove away and the witnesses saw him use the blue lights and a siren to stop a woman driving nearby.

BCSO later found Kirkland had blue lights and a siren in his white truck and a Thin Blue Line tag attached to the front of the vehicle. He also had handcuffs, a handgun and ammunition at his home, and a badge bearing the words “Fugitive Recovery Agent.”

After interviewing him, Kirkland was charged with impersonating a law enforcement officer, false imprisonment and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Anyone who believes they have encountered Kirkland representing himself as an officer is asked to call BCSO at 747-4700 and file a complaint.

PANAMA CITY— A community has joined together to support the family of man killed as he welcomed home his newborn son.

Steven Justin Ayers, 33, was killed Tuesday night when a stray bullet entered his home, struck him in the back of the head and killed him instantly. Ayers and his wife, Jessica Ayers, had just brought home their 3-day-old son — born on Father’s Day — from the hospital. Family members were gathered for a housewarming celebration just before the tragic shooting at the home on Michigan Court.

Ayers’ neighbor, Charles Edward Shisler, 62, 3708 W. 25th St., has beenarrested and charged with manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a felon. He told investigators the gun accidentally discharged when he picked it up inside his house. The bullet went through his window and into the Ayers’ home 200 feet away, where it struck and killed Ayers.

An account created Wednesday in Ayers’ name on the website gofundme.com had more than $11,000 by 5 p.m. Thursday. The proceeds will go to benefit the Ayers family.

FUNDRAISING SITE

A local radio station, WPAP 92.5, is hosting a fundraiser for Ayers’ family Monday at Cahall’s Deli, 416 W. 23rd St.

Many friends, acquaintances and strangers turned to Facebook to express their condolences to the Ayers family. Ayers taught guitar lessons for about 20 years in Bay County and reached countless people through music.

“I never got to thank you for inspiring me in music,” Wes Chastain wrote. “In high school you inspired me to be in music and play guitar because you were so awesome. You taught me everything I know and for that I’m truly thankful. I would not be who I am today if it wasn’t for you.”

“I just think you are just genuinely the most kind, genuine and totally real individual anyone ever met,” Jessica Obert wrote. “I can’t think of a memory of childhood, teenage years with Jessica without you in them. Your departure from this world is surely felt. I wish we had been closer. …”

“I will miss Justin more than I can say,” wrote Chase Morgan, a musician in The Ayers band. “He helped me countless times in the crazy world of music that he understood so well. I am honored to have been his go-to bassist and one of the Ayers for these past two years. You are very much missed, brother.”

“Words cannot express the sorrow I feel as I just heard the news of your death,” Jordyn Cullen wrote. “You were such a good-hearted, light and loving person and what happened to you is beyond senseless.”

19 Harrison Ave.

A fundraiser geared toward Ayers’ love of music will take place at G. Foley’s, 3212 W. 23rd St.,July 8 from 7 to 10 p.m. Musicians willing to donate their talent for the evening are encouraged to contact the business. The business also is accepting baby items and gift card donations for Jessica Ayers and baby Jax Ayers. 

PANAMA CITY — Reporters were limited to one question during a press conference Thursday in which Panama City Police Chief Scott Ervin urged people to share with police information about violent crime in their community.

Ervin held the brief press conference to address the recent wave of gun violence in the city after another teen was shot earlier in the day. He read a brief statement praising the working relationship PCPD has with other local law enforcement agencies and the news media.

He briefly addressed the latest shooting, which occurred around 4:30 a.m. in unit C-102 at the Macedonia Garden Apartments on 17th Street. Police found Samuel McGriff, 17, shot in the gut in the kitchen, according to a PCPD incident report. Ervin said McGriff had just left a nightclub and lamented the failure of McGriff’s parents.

“Where are the parents?” Ervin said. “Clearly someone has failed this child.”

The press conference lasted about six minutes. Ervin explained he was pressed for time and had some training he had to get to, so reporters were allowed to ask him only one question. He didn’t elaborate on the training, and no reporter raised the question.

By the time three reporters had asked their allotted question, Ervin had not provided any information on McGriff’s medical condition, whether the police had any suspects or any information about a potential motive in any of the recent shootings.

Bay Medical Center spokeswoman Christa Davis said a patient listed as unknown who came in Thursday morning with a gunshot wound was in stable condition in the hospital’s intensive care unit.

The department has been sporadic in releasing information about the recent gun violence, which has claimed four lives in Panama City in the span of a month. The department did not issue a press release on McGriff’s shooting Thursday, although did release an incident report when it was requested.

After a teen was shot and killed outside a nightclub last week, police didn’t issue a press release or return at least three messages from The News Herald seeking information. A press release issued the following day announcing the arrest of two suspects in the shooting was the department’s first acknowledgement of the shooting.

“We try to do our best to make sure that we’re giving statements to the media and making sure that those media releases are going out,” Ervin said.

The position of public information officer, which is traditionally the primary point of contact between the department and news media, was eliminated around the time Ervin was appointed chief of police in February 2013.

Ervin said Thursday none of the shootings were random, and police have made arrests in each case except McGriff’s shooting Thursday. Ervin didn’t say if police had any leads in McGriff’s shooting, but he was confident the investigation would be resolved quickly and urged community members to come forward with information about the crime.

“My hope is that our shared community values will result in parents, family members and other community members continuing to contact us with information about crimes, preferably before they occur, but certainly after a crime occurs so that no violent criminal has a safe haven,” Ervin said. “Remember, when you possess information and you don’t share it, you condone the acts of violence that are taking place.”

PANAMA CITY — Police are investigating an early morning shooting which left a teenager with a gunshot wound to the stomach.

The Panama City Police Department is investigating a shooting which took place at about 4:30 a.m. in Macedonia Garden Apartments. Police have identified a 17-year-old male as the victim. He is in stable condition after sustaining a gunshot wound to the stomach and being interviewed by police. However, they have not identified the shooter or the situation surrounding the incident, according to Sgt. Jon Morris of the PCPD.

"At this point we have no suspects, no witnesses," Morris said.

The 17-year-old victim, a resident of Macedonia Apartments, was responsive but uncooperative with investigators. Police would not release the identity of the victim but stated he has a clean criminal history. Police haven't tied him to any illegal activity that could have been taking place at that hour in the morning.
 

PANAMA CITY — A teenager who was shot in a local apartment complex has become the fifth victim to die from gun-related violence in Panama City in less than a month.

Samuel McGriff Jr., 17, was shot about 4:30 a.m. Thursday while he was standing in an outdoor common area of the Macedonia Gardens Apartment complex on 17th Street. Panama City Police later found McGriff shot in the gut in the kitchen of unit C-102, according to police reports.

McGriff was transported by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was listed in stable condition Thursday evening. However, early Friday morning hospital officials notified PCPD that McGriff had died.

PCPD is investigating the shooting as a homicide case, pending the results of an autopsy, according to a news release.

McGriff was the fifth victim to die from an outbreak of shooting violence in Panama City in less than a month, but he was not the first teen life to be claimed by a gun in that time.

“We’ve had an unfortunate amount of people settling disagreements with violence,” said Panama City Police Chief Scott Ervin. “People are making these decisions in milliseconds and that is the way they choose to resolve those issues.”

Police are not certain about what transpired prior to the shooting in Macedonia but have said McGriff recently had returned from a nightclub. Ervin said evidence gathered so far indicates the incident was “directed activity,” he said.

“It doesn’t mean someone was walking down the road and were randomly targeted,” Ervin said. “There might have been some arguing or some kind of exchange between the parties, but it is too early to tell.”

Police have been cautious to label the incidents as drug- or gang-related, especially in McGriff’s case. McGriff had no history of violence or criminal activity.

Jshun Smith, 19, was shot and killed outside a Panama City nightclub June 9 allegedly after an argument involving the girlfriend of the shooter. Khiry Ross, 24, and Marcus Mathis, 25, both Panama City residents, were arrested in connection to the shooting. Ross has been charged with Smith’s death.

Leonard Price, 38, of Panama City, was shot at close range May 28 in the yard of a Carver Road home. 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, and 26-year-old Dalrico Franklin was shot in the leg but survived. Police have not announced any arrests in the case.

Ervin said police are investigating leads into Thursday’s shooting but did not identify suspects Friday.

PCPD encouraged anyone with information on this case to contact Detective Jeff Rogers at the Panama City Police Department, 850-872-3100, or anonymously to CrimeStoppers at 850-785-TIPS (8477).

An earlier version of this story is below:

PANAMA CITY — A teenager who was shot in a local apartment complex has died from his injuries.

Samuel McGriff Jr., 17, was shot while standing in an outdoor common area of the Macedonia Gardens Apartment complex, according to police reports. McGriff was transported by ambulance to an area hospital where on the evening of Thursday his condition was listed as stable. However, early Friday morning the Panama City Police Department was notified that McGriff had died in the hospital.

PCPD is investigating the shooting as a homicide case, pending the results of an autopsy. McGriff is the sixth victim to die from gun-related violence in Panama City in less than a month.

Because the investigation is ongoing, PCPD would only release limited information.

No suspects have been identified.

The Panama City Police Department encourages those with any information in reference to this case to contact Detective Jeff Rogers at the Panama City Police Department, 850-872-3100, or they can be reported anonymously to CrimeStoppers at 850-785-TIPS.
 

PANAMA CITY -- A donation chest to benefit the family of a man killed by a stray bullet approached $20,000 by Friday afternoon.

The donation page labeled “Go Without To Help Out: The Ayers Family” on gofund me.com was created after the sudden death of 33-year-old Justin Ayers only a day ago but had nearly surpassed $20,000 in donations late Friday.

Ayers was struck by a stray bullet that entered his home Tuesday night as he and family members held a homecoming for his 3-day-old baby. The celebration came to a horrifying halt when the bullet entered through a sliding glass door and hit Ayers in the back of the head, killing him instantly.

“Tragedy struck our community Tuesday when a stray bullet hit and killed Justin Ayers in his home as he celebrated the birth of his newborn baby with family,” the donation page creators wrote. “We’re asking you to go without this month: without your daily coffee stop, without your weekend movie trip, without something you don’t really need and to donate that money to the Ayers family instead.”

Of the nearly 400 people who donated, some left condolences or listed what they would go without. The page received more than 4,300 shares among various social media platforms.

Ayers’ funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Northside Baptist Church with Rev.’s Luther Stanford, Jeff Stockdale and Jerry Moore officiating. A private family interment will follow. The family will receive friends at the church from 10 to 11 a.m., one hour prior to service time.

A fundraiser geared toward Ayers’ love of music will take place at G. Foley’s, 3212 W. 23rd St., July 8 from 7 to 10 p.m. Musicians willing to donate their talent for the evening are encouraged to contact Natalie Reynolds by email at nataliereynoldsmusic@gmail.com. She also can arrange accepting gifts of baby items and gift card donations for Jessica Ayers and baby Jax Ayers. 

The Blotter is a look at some of the unusual things that happen on the crime beat in Bay County.

PANAMA CITY -- Many people leave gentleman’s clubs with way less money than they expected. For one man traveling through Panama City, more than $400 came up missing at a local club.

His approach was simple enough. Two stacks of money, same pocket. One stack was single dollar bills, one stack was hundreds and twenties.

After a private dance he complained to management the stack of hundreds was gone. The dancer denied stealing it and removed her clothing to prove she didn’t have the money on her.

Re-enacting the events for management, the guy undid his pants, sat down where he received the private dance and proceeded to describe how the dance went. Why did you undo your pants, management asked. He told the guy he wasn’t supposed to do that. The guy appeared to be intoxicated so management asked him to come back the next day to continue the search for the money.

Management later told police he personally searched the dancer himself — surely, just to double check. 

CHIPLEY -- A Washington County Sheriff's Office employee is in critical condition after being injured Thursday in what officials are calling a freak accident.

WCSO Fleet Management Supervisor Matt Cox accompanied deputies as they responded to a report of a road obstruction in near the intersection of Brickyard and Rock Hill Church roads. Upon arriving on scene, deputies discovered the obstruction to be a large tree limb, estimated to weigh up to a few hundred pounds. As Cox and deputies were assessing the situation, the limb, which reportedly was still partially attached to the tree, snapped and moved suddenly, striking Cox in the back of the head.

Cox was transported to a Dothan, Ala. hospital where he remains in ICU with multiple injuries, including bleeding on and around the brain, severe fracture of the spine located in his middle and lower back, a small puncture of his lung and a fractured hip. Friends report Cox's back and hip will require multiple lengthy surgeries to repair. 

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Panama City Beach Police announced Sunday that they had arrested Ryan Edward Fales, 37, of Millbrook, Ala., after allegations that Fales inappropriately touched a 14-year-old girl and exposed himself to her on Saturday, June 21, 2014, based on statements gathered from witnesses.

Fales was charged with lewd and lascivious molestation and lewd and lascivious exhibition, police said, and he was taken to the Bay County Jail to await first appearance. 

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Panama City Beach Police announced Sunday the arrest of Eric Bolenbaugh, 18, and Elijah G. Sledge, 15, of Bonifay, after Sandpiper Beacon Beach Resort security reported they had witnessed Sledge in their storage building attempting to steal a Budlight sign.

Bolenbaugh and Sledge provided incriminating statements and were charged with burglary to a structure and grand theft. Bolenbaugh was transported to the Bay County Jail to await first appearance and Sledge was taken to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

PONCE DE LEON -- A man who was pulled from Ponce de Leon Springs Saturday has died.

The Holmes County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as David Allen McCartt, 50, of DeFuniak Springs.

Witnesses report McCartt was seen easing himself into the water from a sitting position shortly before the incident.

Destin resident Cynthia Foss, who was at the springs with family from Bonifay, said she was the first to administer CPR.

“None of us really saw him struggle,” Foss said. “He just sort of slide in, and the next time I saw him, he was being pulled from the water. A park ranger said he was pulled from the underwater cave, which is a good 20 feet below the surface.”

McCartt was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, where he died Monday.

An earlier version of this story is posted below:

PONCE DE LEON -- The Holmes County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of the man who nearly drowned while swimming at Ponce de Leon Springs Saturday.

Witnesses report David Allen McCartt, 50, of DeFuniak Springs, was seen easing himself into the water from a sitting position shortly before the incident.

Destin resident Cynthia Foss, who was at the springs with family from Bonifay, said she was the first to administer CPR.

“None of us really saw him struggle,” Foss said. “He just sort of slide in, and the next time I saw him, he was being pulled from the water. A park ranger said he was pulled from the underwater cave, which is a good 20 feet below the surface.”

McCartt remains in ICU at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. 

PANAMA CITY -- David H. Smith, a 77-year-old homeless veteran with cancer who has been critical of Veterans Affairs health care in recent local media reports, was arrested Friday and charged with failure to register as a sexual offender.

A local oncologist volunteered to treat Smith after Smith complained about waiting several months for an appointment at a VA clinic before information on Smith’s convictions for child molestation surfaced.

Smith served eight years in prison and was released in 2001. As a sex offender, he is required to keep law enforcement apprised of his current address.

He appeared before a judge who set his bond at $12,500. He’s charged with two counts of failing to register as a sexual offender, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison, and with violating a city sex offender ordinance.

PANAMA CITY — Police have arrested a man suspected of shooting up a neighborhood street last week and firing a gun outside a nightclub early Sunday morning before robbing two people, authorities reported.

Police said they believe the suspect might have a connection to a recent homicide.

No injuries were reported June 18 around 9 p.m. when Sammie Underwood III, 21, and an unidentified man allegedly fired several gunshots into homes and cars on the 700 block of Redwood Avenue, but the shooting forced residents, including women and children, in a home that was shot to seek cover in a bathtub. The shooting followed an argument between a neighborhood resident and Underwood, who also is known as “Trigger Tre” and has served prison time for gun charges.

Panama City Police obtained a warrant for Underwood’s arrest Friday, but detectives didn’t catch up with him until early Monday, when they responded to a reported armed robbery with shots fired at Bambi’s Dollhouse at 2915 U.S. Business 98. Witnesses said Underwood and 23-year-old Calvin Williams robbed two victims of a cellphone and jewelry, and the two men drove past police investigating the robbery.

When police tried to stop the car they were in, Underwood, who was driving, allegedly led them on a short chase before they were arrested, according to police.

Williams, who has numerous convictions and apparently owes nearly $20,000 in court fees and fines, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, and Underwood is charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling and fleeing and eluding police.

The two were not charged with robbery because the victims didn’t want to pursue charges against them, police reported. In fact, one of the robbery victims was arrested on a warrant for domestic battery.

Police are investigating a possible connection between those crimes and a shooting last week at the Macedonia Garden Apartments that killed 17-year-old Samuel McGriff, said Officer Richard Thore with the Panama City Police Department. No one has been charged in McGriff’s death.

That case and the two cases in which Underwood has been charged are still under investigation, and police didn’t release details on the possible link.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Joe Adams with the PCPD at 872-3100 or report information anonymously to CrimeStoppers at 785-TIPS (8477).