For Immediate Release

Niceville, FL – The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force from Pensacola arrested a Niceville man in the early morning hours today after he escaped from authorities Monday evening. Bryant Gafford, 19, was in custody at about 5:30 p.m. last night at the Niceville Police Department after being arrested for Trafficking in Oxycodone and Possession of a Controlled Substance. While being brought into the police station he managed to escape. Authorities on scene pursued Gafford on foot but he was able to slip away into the dark. Niceville Police Department who is a participating agency with the Marshals Task Force immediately requested their assistance. Almost immediately Task Force Officers from DeFuniak Springs Police Department, Okaloosa, Walton, Escambia, and Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Offices’, FDLE and the State Attorney’s Office were on scene. Okaloosa County Correctional Institute K-9 and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office Air Unit were also on scene and assisted in the investigation.

“As often in these cases, we got to a point where we had to sit back and regroup,” said Dominic Guadagnoli Inspector for the Pensacola Task Force. “It was shortly after that we were able to pinpoint where he was and arrest him.”

Shortly before 2 a.m., the Task Force was onto him and found him at a home on the 200 Block of Marquette Street in Niceville. Gafford was found hiding under a bed in the upstairs of the home and had to be tased in order to subdue him safely.  Also arrested were Michelle Glinka, 20, and Chase McCullough, 21 both of Niceville. Glinka is being charged with Aiding and Abetting a Fugitive while McCullough is currently being charged with Resisting Without – Obstruction of Justice but may face an additional charge of Aiding and Abetting a Fugitive as well. All three were brought to the Okaloosa County Jail and held on no bond as of this morning.

Earlier in the evening during the course of the escape investigation the Task Force arrested Jon-Michael Dunn for an active Battery warrant out of Crestview Police Department.  Dunn was arrested at residence at 500 Kelly Mill Road Niceville. Dunn’s warrant had no bond.

Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov

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