Nine Arrested in Multi-agency Operation in Bay County

Sheriff Frank McKeithen announced at a press conference today the details of a multi-agency operation in which 16 residential search warrants were executed in Bay County. The search warrants were executed yesterday June 30, 2009, and today July 1, 2009. Nine individuals have been arrested so far as a result of this operation.

Previous investigation identified individuals living within the residences that had downloaded child pornography from the internet. Search warrants were obtained and nine were arrested and charged with Possession of Pictures or Video Depicting Sexual Performance of a Child. Those arrested were: Marcus Alexander Pierce, DOB 6/28/85, of 300 Cabana Blvd., Panama City, Brian E. Glass, DOB 10/10/89, of 7814 Madison Avenue, Southport, John Goodwin Funk, DOB 5/12/89, of 1053 Mississippi Drive, Tyndall AFB, Nicholas Sabastian Spriggs, DOB 7/30/94, of 156 Concord Circle, Panama City, Jason Alan Strickland, DOB 11/10/74, of 3325 E. Baldwin Road, Panama City, Jared Caldwell Coleman, DOB 3/14/85, of 2506 E. 37th Street, Panama City, Michael Wayne McCollum, DOB 3/7/68, of 1902 Kingslee Drive, Southport, Robert Bruce Trend, DOB 12/3/51, of 301 Lullwater Drive, Panama City Beach, and Arturo Palukaitis, DOB 8/11/60, of 306 Summerwood Drive, Panama City Beach.

Additional arrests and charges are pending computer forensic analysis. Agencies participating in the operation were the Attorney General’s Office, Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Children and Families, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Gulf County Sheriff’s Office, Lynn Haven Police Department, Office of Special Investigations of the US Air Force, Panama City Police Department, Panama City Beach Police Department, Springfield Police Department, State Attorney’s Office, 14th Judicial Circuit, and the US Marshall’s Service.