Early on the evening of Wednesday, June 7, 2023, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a burglary that took place at a property on Corbin Gainey Road in DeFuniak Springs.
When deputies arrived on scene, the home owner stated an air compressor and other miscellaneous tools were missing from his shed.
Witnesses living on the property said a man wearing a black shirt, a ball cap, and blue jeans left moments before deputies showed up at the property.
Deputies canvassed the area but were unable to locate the suspect. While deputies were on scene taking a report of the burglary, the suspect showed back up at the property but fled into the woods as soon as he saw deputies.
Walton Correctional Institution and Okaloosa Correctional Institution’s K9 Teams, as well as WCSO’s drone team responded to the scene and began attempting to track the suspect.
A reverse 911 call was sent out to residents in the area providing a description of the suspect.
A few hours later, WCSO received a call from a resident who stated a man matching the suspect’s description had shown up at their home, told them he was injured, and asked for a ride home.
The caller stated they were unaware he was wanted by law enforcement and her husband had just left their home to bring the suspect back to his house.
Deputies intercepted the vehicle at the intersection of Farrell Drive and Kings Lake Road.
Randall Jason Burchette, 46, admitted to taking the items from the shed on Corbin Gainey Road and agreed to lead deputies to his home where the stolen items were located.
Burchette is being charged with burglary of a structure, petit theft, and resisting without violence.
Walton County Fire Rescue, Florida transported the suspect to a local hospital for an injury he sustained while running from law enforcement.
Upon release, he will be transported and booked into the Walton County Jail.
