Pitts facing long list of charges after See Page 5 for details on the July 4 parade & fireworks in Blountstown allegedly threatening wife with gun & fleeing deputies at over 100 mph THE CALHOUN-LIBErtY Standoff at road 50¢ includes block ends when tax suspect shoots OURNAL JCLJNews.com WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 2012 Vol. 32, No. 27 himself in chin by Teresa Eubanks, Journal Editor A 51-year-old Calhoun County man is facing a long list of charges after he allegedly threatened to shoot his estranged wife and led deputies on a chase at speeds of over 100 mph and then turned the gun on himself, resulting in a non-fatal wound when he fired a bullet into his chin, according to a report from the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office. Hours after getting the initial call June 26 about a disturbance at a residence on H.A. Varnum Road, deputies caught up with Randall Pitts on Boneyard Road off CR 69, just inside Jackson County. He was sitting in the driver’s seat of his black Pontiac Sunfire, which was parked in the middle of the road. When a deputy, using a loud speaker, urged him to resolve the situation without anyone being hurt, Pitts replied: “Just let me die in peace.” Moments later, Pitts sped off, going eastbound on Boneyard Road. After driving about a mile, he came to a roadblock set up by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Pitts stopped in the middle of the road. Deputies drew their guns and took cover. RANDALL PITTS Pitts ignored deputies as they repeatedly attempted to talk him into peacefully resolving the standoff. Still A group braves the heat to cross the Trammell Bridge between Blountstown and Bristol during the annual inside the car, Pitts pointed his handgun to his chin and Independence Day “Walk to Liberty” on Saturday. Each year, on the Saturday closest to the Fourth of fired one shot. He then opened the car door, threw the July, people gather to make the trek from Calhoun County into Liberty County. Afterwards, a special pro- gun to the side and began to crawl out. Deputies moved gram to commemorate the holiday is held at Veterans Memorial Civic Center in Bristol. See more on the day’s events on page 9. DANIEL WILLIAMS PHOTO See STANDOFF continued on page 9 A lifetime of service Local nurse charged Altha man killed Man charged with child Sally Struthers to Two Marianna FCI Remembering with abusing disabled when vehicle runs Lester abuse for getting girl to headline opening of officers indicted for adult at state hospital off road, hits culvert Summers try methamphetamine Chipola Arts Center bribery, contraband PAGE 3 PAGE 3 PAGE 21 PAGE 2 PAGE 5 PAGE 3 ...also takes third & fifth place, most poundage and wins $1,850 Blake Bristol 12-year-old wins Wewa Fishing Shuler Tournament with 35.03 flathead by Teresa Eubanks, Journal Editor third and fifth place as well as pulling at 34.16 pounds, earning There may have been 70 anglers in the most poundage for the two-day $500. taking part in last weekend’s fishing tournament with 125.48-lbs. Alabama angler Gary Brown tournament in Wewahitchka, but a His arms were so full of trophies at took fourth place, winning $300 with youngster from Bristol put ‘em all to the end of the event that when he was a 30.53 pound flathead. It was his shame after he collected four trophies, called up front to collect his winnings, first time flathead fishing. Brown, four checks and a pile of big flathead organizers had to stuff the four checks who was staying at the Dead Lakes catfish. under his hat, according to his dad. campground just north of Wewahitchka, It must have been a heck of a ride Blake went home with $1,850 in got interested in the tournament a week home to Bristol for 12-year-old Blake prize money, including $1,000 for first earlier when he saw a flathead caught Shuler after he and his dad, Parley place, $400 for third place, $200 for fifth by a Tampa man. Shuler, III, 49, took part in the Eighth place and $250 for most poundage. The weight of Blake’s six fish edged Annual Gaskin Park Flathead Catfish All his wins only left only two other out another long time fisherman, Jamie Tournament in Wewahitchka this past spots on the board. Lee of Calhoun County, who caught 12 weekend. Henry Hamlin of Bristol took second flatheads for a total of 100.32 pounds Not only did Blake win, he took place with a flathead weighing in An avid fisherman since the age See TOURNAMENT continued inside on page 18 Sheriff's Log...2 Arrest Reports...2 Community Calendar..4 News from the Pews...10 Farmer’s Almanac...11 Birthdays & A Birth...12 Business News...15 Speak Up.....19 Obituaries...23 Classifieds...26, 27 Jobs...30 Page 2 THE CALHOUN-LIBERTY JOURNAL JULY 4, 2012 Bristol man charged with making methamphetamine A 43-year-old Bristol man back yard where several items Kersey was not home at the time, but exceeded the limit allowed by law. is being held on $10,000 had been hidden, including his girlfriend and two other people were. On July 1, Kersey was found in a camper bond following his arrest for a stripped lithium battery, All three gave written statements that they trailer near SR 20 in Bristol and taken into making methamphetamine, lithium strips, a 20 ounce were not involved with making meth at custody. He said the materials found at his according to a report from plastic bottle with tubing and the home. home all belonged to him and he admitted the Liberty County Sheriff’s a glass jar with a small amount Kersey’s girlfriend stated that when she that he had cooked meth at his home a few Office. of liquid. A plastic bag that and the other two came to the house around times during the last few months. After serving a search held two plastic bottles was 2:15 p.m. the previous day, they noticed a He also led investigators to more warrant on Robert Kersey’s also found. One was a 20 strong odor in the residence, where they supplies that had been secured in the shed, CR 12 residence at 1 p.m. ounce bottle, identified as a found Kersey home alone. including a bottle of charcoal lighter fluid Saturday, officers with the reaction vessel. The other was She said Kersey got mad when he that was one third full, an instant cold Liberty County Sheriff’s a bottle with tubing coming learned that she had emptied a glass jar pack (ammonium nitrate) that had been cut Office found items they from the lid. that held a liquid with a strong odor. He open, lye and liquid drain cleaner. identified as part of the meth- robert KERSEY In a shed, investigators demanded to know why she poured it out He was then booked into the jail. making process in a bedroom, reported finding an 18 ounce and told her, “I needed that.” a shed and a hole in the back yard. plastic bottle with tubing coming from During the investigation, A propane bottle with a torch attachment, the lid, a coffee filter that had a white it was discovered that Kersey a small plastic container with white solid substance, a plastic bottle with white had made 13 purchases of Man charged with striking residue, three coffee filters with a solid residue, empty pseudoephedrine blister pseudoephedrine pills from white substance and four tin foil strips packs, a stripped lithium battery, lithium six pharmacies between out toward girlfriend in with burnt residue were found in the master strips, an empty one quart bottle of lighter January 5, 2012 and June 8, front of deputy and major bedroom. fluid and a gallon-size plastic bottle that 2012. One attempted purchase Officers reported finding a hole in the was half full of a bi-layer liquid. was blocked because he had A Telogia man upset that his truck had gotten into the water on Hwy. 67 was charged with domestic assault after he attempted to hit his girlfriend in front compiled by Journal of two members of the Liberty ARREST REPORTS Editor Teresa Eubanks County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Corry Fletcher and Major Steve Swier had gone to speak with Marvin Brown, Blountstown man charged with child 43, around 9:30 p.m. on June 25 to explain how his vehicle ended up flooded in the road as abuse for encouraging girl to use meth Tropical Storm Debby hovered A 2 0 - y e a r - o l d spending the night at a attempts, convinced her to near the Florida panhandle, Blountstown man is being friend’s home. snort it. unleashing heavy rains and held without bond on a She took the girl to An officer who went to high wind throughout the charge of child abuse after the hospital the next day, Melton’s home to speak area. he allegedly encouraged where she tested positive with him reported that he B r o w n b e c a m e v e r y WILLIAM BROWN a teenage girl to use for amphetamines. appeared “very agitated agitated, began cursing and methamphetamine. In a recorded statement, and under the influence of then advanced toward his live- Christopher Melton was the girl said Melton brought some illegal narcotics.” in girlfriend with a clinched fist. He tried to punch her arrested June 26.