An Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit, alongside Okaloosa and Walton Correctional Institution teams, tirelessly tracked a fugitive through a swamp Saturday for several hours before taking him into custody off Bill Lundy Road.

K9 Beau and Deputy Tim Patterson, as well as the OCSO Drone Unit, combined their exceptional skills and determination in locating 47-year old Anthony Mcleod of Laurel Hill after he ran into a swampy area to try to escape.

Mcleod was wanted on charges of domestic battery involving at least two separate victims in the days prior. In the first case reported to deputies September 24th, the victim says Mcleod pulled handfuls of hair out of her head at a home on Second Avenue in Laurel Hill. Another victim says said Mcleod hit her and pulled her hair at a residence off State Road 85 near Crestview September 26th.

“That was a great effort by the K9 teams and other law enforcement personnel who worked those very challenging conditions to ensure the suspect’s apprehension, “ said Sheriff Eric Aden. “Mcleod was taken to the County Jail in Crestview. If you add in outstanding warrants, he is currently charged with four counts of domestic violence battery as well as criminal mischief with property damage.”

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