HOLT, Fla., July 5, 2026—Two separate incidents occurred yesterday where a citizen saw something and reported it in a timely manner.

The first incident happened early yesterday morning around 1 a.m. when an eastbound driver on Interstate 10 saw a vehicle behind her disappear from the roadway around mile marker 48.

She immediately called 911 and reported what she believed to be an accident. Holt Fire District quickly responded and found the vehicle deep into the wooded area.

Because of the caller’s quick actions, responders were able to locate the vehicle.

“Without that call, it’s possible the driver may not have been found for quite some time,” said Holt Fire Capt. Shelly Chestnut.

Holt Fire Chief Scott Chestnut and Lt. Howard Peak were able to quickly extricate the driver who was airlifted to a local hospital by Okaloosa MedFlight.

Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol controlled traffic as the eastbound lanes of I-10 was closed while air evacuation operations took place.

Capt. Chestnut had a message for the caller.

“Thank you. You may never know it, but your decision to call 911 may have saved a life,” she said.

In the second incident yesterday, an observant individual called the sheriff’s office after seeing what appeared to be a burglary at a barn on Mount Olive Road in Crestview.

The man discovered the property had been burglarized and reported seeing a GMC pickup leaving the area.

The same truck returned to the property and the witness saw the driver, later identified as Robert Andrew Robinson, 40, and immediately called the sheriff’s office.

Deputies located the truck nearby and conducted a traffic stop. During the investigation, Robinson consented to a search.

Deputies recovered approximately $1,800 worth of stolen property belonging to the victim as well as drugs and weapons.

Located were:

• approximately 1 gram of fentanyl
• a bottle containing promethazine
• two spray devices containing valium
• a digital scale with residue that field-tested positive for methamphetamine
• drug paraphernalia
• a concealed knife

Because Robinson is a convicted felon, he was also charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.

Robinson told deputies he believed the property had been abandoned because the owner had passed away. The victim advised Robinson did not have permission to be on the property or to remove anything.

Robinson is charged with burglary, grand theft, drugs and weapon possession.

In both incidents, individuals took the responsibility of making a call to authorities. In the first case, a life was saved; in the second, personal property was recovered.

Staff and Holt Fire District and Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office releases