Public warned 10 days after crime

Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Deputies said when Lt. Chris Watson, a 21-year veteran of the force, and his wife Bonita returned from vacation on the weekend of April 21, they expected to come back to their normal Milton home.

What they found out instead was that someone had broken in and set it on fire.

“Just like any other crime victim, you’re sick to your stomach, literally,” said Watson.

The suspects also stole his personal truck, which was later found ditched in Pensacola.

Watson's patrol vehicle was also burglarized and body armor, weapons, ammunition and other police gear stolen.

“Not only was this an attack on law enforcement, but they stole items that could be used in other criminal activities,” Watson said.

This incident happened 10 days before any information was released, leading some to wonder why deputies waited.

FOX10 spoke to Sgt. Scott Haines with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office about that very question.

“When this first happened, from the sheriff on down, we communicated and decided that as soon as the investigators collected all they needed and it wouldn’t jeopardize their investigation, we’d go public with it,” said Haines.

Haines said if the information had gone public, investigators could have lost potential leads.

Now he’s asking for the public’s help.

“Criminals have access to guns and bullet-proof vests, so that’s concerning to law enforcement. We were the target in this, and the public wasn’t. The public should definitely help their law enforcement to try and solve this before it happens to another person,” Haines said.

FOX10 News contacted the Federal Department of Law Enforcement about why it took so long to notify the public about this crime.

A spokesperson declined to comment, saying it's a Santa Rosa County investigation.

If you know anything about the crime, call Santa Rosa County Crime Stoppers (850) 437-STOP.