DEFUNIAK SPRINGS MAN FACING DRUG CHARGES FOLLOWING TRAFFIC STOP WITH CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT
December 12, 2024
WALTON COUNTY, FLA— A DeFuniak Springs man faces multiple felony charges including trafficking in heroin and child abuse after a traffic stop in DeFuniak Springs Wednesday night.
On December 11th at around 9:45 pm, a Walton County Sheriff’s Deputy was patrolling Black Bass Boulevard in DeFuniak Springs when he got behind a vehicle registered to someone without a valid driver’s license.
The deputy attempted to stop the car at the intersection of Red Eye Road and Juniper Lake Road in DeFuniak Springs, but the driver did not stop and continued traveling at speeds of 30-35 miles per hour.
Moments later, dispatch alerted the deputy that the driver called 911 to confirm he was getting pulled over. Finally, once the driver noticed an additional deputy coming from the opposite direction, he pulled into a home on Roberts Drive.
When deputies approached the car, they noticed a small child in the backseat. The driver, identified as Nathan Scott Clark, 32, of DeFuniak Springs was detained.
Clark told deputies he was loaned the vehicle to drive into town which was confirmed through the vehicle’s owner.
A search of the car revealed 39 white, pressed pills that tested positive for heroin. In addition, a scale was removed from Clark that had a white powdery substance on it that field tested positive for methamphetamine.
Clark was arrested and charged with fleeing and eluding, driving with a suspended license (habitual offender), trafficking heroin, child abuse, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was issued a $50,000 bond and is still incarcerated at the time of this release.
The child was comforted on scene and was released to a caregiver.