Santa Rosa Beach,Fla — A normal traffic stop can change in the blink of an eye when a weapon is involved. We’ve seen it all too often in the news and across the country. For Walton County Sheriff’s Deputies last night was no different.
January 27th Chief Deputy AJ Smith was traveling east bound on Highway 98 in an unmarked vehicle and observed a red Chevrolet Impala in the left lane impeding the normal flow of traffic by traveling at a very low speed. He further observed the four occupants of that vehicle passing around what appeared to be a marijuana joint. Chief Smith called for a marked unit and a traffic stop was conducted.
During the stop, a passenger of the vehicle, Shayla Penn, 22, handed marijuana to the responding deputy. When exiting the vehicle a replica gun was spotted in the seat behind her.
The gun was an airsoft gun with NO orange markings or otherwise obvious evidence that the gun was a fake.
While speaking to the deputy Penn proceed to adjust her pants and a clear plastic bag fell on the ground behind her. Inside, was three while rectangle pills. When asked Penn admitted the pills were Xanax and she did not have a prescription.
Penn was arrested for possession of controlled substance without a prescription and taken to the Walton County Jail.
“We can’t charge her with possession of a deadly weapon in the act of a felony, because the gun was a fake,” said Chief Deputy Aj Smith. “But, in the dark, had the situation been different this could have ended tragically. We treat every weapon we are presented with like a real gun. In this case, it’s very hard to tell at a glance. Especially at 9 o’clock at night.”
“These folks were up to no good. They were from Okaloosa County, had no final destination, no money, and no purpose,” said Smith. “If you bring that kind of recklessness to Walton County you will be arrested.” –
