DeFuniak Springs Police Deal With Dangerous Incident Over The Weekend
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: January 31, 2011
On Saturday, January 29th 2011, at approximately 5:53pm, Officers from the DeFuniak Springs Police Department responded to a call of a male subject, planning to commit suicide. The subject was reported by callers to be driving a Toyota Pick-Up Truck and was headed to the Magnolia Cemetery in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. The subject was reported to be armed with two guns, a rifle and a handgun.
Officers with the DeFuniak Springs Police located the suspect vehicle in the area of 9th Street and Baldwin Avenue. Officers attempted to stop the truck with their lights and siren activated. The driver, identified as John Yearwood of DeFuniak Springs, failed to stop for the officers and attempted to flee and elude the patrol vehicles by driving at a high rate of speed and in a reckless manner, at one point, jumping a curb in the area of South 2nd Street. Officers followed the fleeing vehicle to Yearwood’s residence on Cypress Lane, where Yearwood exited his vehicle and fled inside the home. Yearwood was detained inside the residence after a brief foot pursuit with officers and no one was injured.
A search of Yearwood’s truck revealed three firearms, a long rifle, an assault rifle and a handgun. All weapons were loaded and ready to fire. After making contact with Yearwood’s immediate family, other firearms and weapons were located and removed from the residence. Drug Paraphernalia was also located and seized.
Yearwood was taken into custody and transported to the Walton County Jail where he is charged with; Reckless Driving, Fleeing and Attempting to Elude a Law Enforcement Officer, Resisting without Violence and Possession of a Firearm while in the Commission of a Felony. Additional charges stemming from the drug paraphernalia are pending at this time.
At total of 16 firearms, along with hunting knives, swords, a cross-bow and a large amount of ammunition was seized. This case is active, pending further investigation. No further information is available at this time.
