Contact: Lt.

Tim Wood MEDIA RELEASE

Telephone: 850-227-1115
July 14, 2020
Email: twood@gcso.fl.gov

GCSO LAW ENFORCEMENT SUMMARY

JULY 6, 2020 – JULY 12, 2020

On Wednesday, July 8, Elliot Edward Samples (66) turned himself in at the Gulf County
Detention Facility to be booked on a warrant for Theft. Deputy S. Sheline investigated a
report of a theft at the Ace Hardware in Wewahitchka on June 30, 2020. Samples was
captured on video surveillance stealing a spool of weed eater line.

On Wednesday, July 8, Deputy S. Alday executed an arrest warrant on Jones Homestead

Road by arresting Janet Nicole Barefoot (32) for Hiring a Vehicle with Intent to Defraud.
The charge stems from an incident reported to the GCSO on May 20, 2020 where
Barefoot hired the services of an Uber driver and then failed to pay the driver.

On Wednesday, July 8, Investigators M. Manley and C. Harvey conducted a traffic stop

on Hwy 71 South in Wewahitchka. During the course of the traffic stop, investigators
identified a passenger in the vehicle as Belinda Sue Herrick (46) and revealed that she
was in possession of methamphetamine. Herrick was placed under arrest and charged
with Possession of Methamphetamine.

On Thursday, July 9, Deputy S. Alday conducted a traffic stop on Jones Homestead Road.
The driver of the vehicle, identified as James Edward Waters (71), had a suspended
driver’s license which resulted from a prior DUI. Waters was placed under arrest and
charged with DWLS/R.

On Thursday, July 9, Deputy S. Alday stopped a vehicle for speeding on Hwy 71, south of
White City. Deputy Alday identified the driver as Brandi Lyne Bivins (41) and learned
that Bivins had a suspended driver’s license. During the stop, Deputy Alday conducted a
probable cause search of the vehicle and revealed a personal amount of
methamphetamine, a glass smoking pipe, a syringe containing methamphetamine and a
Hydrocodone pill. Bivins was placed under arrest and charged with Possession of
Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance (Hydrocodone) and
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

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On Friday, July 10, Sgt. D. Sanders responded to Myers Road in Wewahitchka to
investigate a report of a physical altercation. According to witnesses, Richard Wesley
Gates (53) attacked another person with a hammer, striking the person in the head and
arm. Gates was placed under arrest and charged with Battery and Aggravated Battery
with a Deadly Weapon.

On Sunday, July 12, Deputy J. Page executed an arrest warrant on Woodmere Drive by
arresting Julie Ellen Mace (55) for Aggravated Battery. In an investigation began by
Deputy V. Everett on July 4, it was reported that Mace entered onto another person’s
property and assaulted them.

If you have any information regarding the aforementioned cases, please contact the Gulf
County Sheriff’s Office at 850-227-1115, 850-639-5717, or remain anonymous by calling
Crime Stoppers at 850-785-TIPS.

Prepared by: Lt. Tim Wood

Approved by: Sheriff Mike Harrison

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