Deputies on probation after failing to find felon's gun

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office of Professional Standards has released its investigative report into a September incident in which a loaded revolver was found in a jail cell.

Disciplinary action has been taken against sheriff’s deputies Dennis Campbell and Robert Speakman, who failed to find the weapon during the search of a suspect, according to the report.

Both deputies are on three-month disciplinary probation and pending the results could face a three-day suspension without pay.

The incident was the first offense for both deputies.

The deputies were given their letters of reprimand and suspension Nov. 4.

On Sept. 8, 18-year-old Stoney Mathis was arrested for a traffic stop and taken to Okaloosa County Jail.

After his release the next day, a deputy searching the facility found a loaded .38 revolver tucked under a roll of toilet paper, according to the investigative report.

Investigators noted that neither deputy had properly searched Mathis’ waistband, which is where the weapon was hidden.

After finding the gun, investigators watched the video surveillance tape of the cell and saw Mathis pull the revolver from his waistband.

According to the report, Mathis was pulled over for a traffic stop. During the stop, passengers in the vehicle attempted to evade officers as well as destroy evidence.

Speakman responded to assist the initial deputy. Speakman is seen on video surveillance handcuffing Mathis and taking him to the front of a patrol vehicle to search him.

The deputy asked Mathis if he had “anything that would stick or hurt him,” and Mathis told him no.

Speakman performed a search, carefully checking Mathis’ legs and groin area, the upper part of his body and his pockets. The video footage, according to the report, shows Speakman looking around as if he realized he didn’t search Mathis’ waist. He began a search but did so “quickly” and only did half of the waist area.

Mathis was then put into another deputy’s patrol car and taken to Okaloosa County Jail.

Mathis and another man arrested that night were searched by Campbell upon arrival. As Campbell began to search Mathis, the suspect asked to use the bathroom.

Campbell said he told Mathis he would have to wait until he was searched and shackled.

Campbell checked Mathis’ waist and pockets. He also collected the Fort Walton Beach man’s belt before allowing him to use a cell’s bathroom.

The deputy described the 230-pound man as having a “big gut,” which hung over his pants. Campbell said he did not “physically lift up his stomach” during the search.

Campbell told investigators that not properly checking Mathis’ waist “might have been a mistake in retrospect,” according to the report.