Sheriff Donald Valenza Attempt To Protect

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
Date: May 03 2016 6:27 PM

HOUSTON COUNTY:   When something occurs, sometimes it takes time for the information to develop.

On April 19 as I was sitting at my desk I heard the call of the armed robbery at the Shell Station in Ozark, Highway 231 at Deese Road. I listened to Ozark Police Chief Marlos Walker and members of Ozark Police and Dale County Sheriff Deputies search the area and deploy K-9 dogs. Reports of the suspect were broadcast, and the fact he was considered "armed and dangerous".

Later information was updated to include the suspect possibly committed an armed robbery in Troy about one hour prior to the Ozark robbery.

And the days clicked on.

Then on April 26, in Pensacola ( Escambia County ) Florida, a suspect with the same description, is alleged to have committed a robbery and killed the store owner. Video footage was available and there was no apparent attempt by the suspect to conceal his identity.

More details and information were being compiled by investigating agencies. And investigating agencies began sharing information. Some of that information included this person was a possible suspect in robberies in Montgomery and Prattville.

Later last week Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza gathered Vice and Investigation Officers of the Sheriff Department. A sheet was prepared with the suspect description, vehicle information, and other information which law enforcement could release.

Sheriff Valenza then instructed the Vice and Investigation Officers, along with patrol deputies, to begin the process of distributing this information throughout Houston County. The Sheriff instructed close attention to the gas and convenience stores. 

Sheriff Valenza wanted to make sure that the working men and women in these stores were fully aware of what this suspect looked like, what identifying information they had and what mode of operation was known at the time. He wanted the men and women to be informed and safe.

Then on Friday in Coffee and Pike County spotted the suspect and a chase took place. Dale County Sheriff Wally Olson sent the Dale County helicopter to the air when the chase started.

The suspect crashed and was injured.

But the purpose of this article is to make the public aware. Your Sheriff, Donald Valenza, put a specific plan together and implemented that plan in making the public aware of what they knew. He wanted everyone informed and safe.

THANKS, not only to Sheriff Valenza, but to the men and women of the Houston County Sheriff Department and other agencies for your work. 

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