Fort Walton Beach Man Arrested on Cocaine Trafficking and Child Abuse Charges After Traffic Stop

Fort Walton Beach, FL (BuzzReport)—A routine traffic stop in the Fort Walton Beach area Monday escalated into a major drug arrest after deputies reportedly discovered cocaine, prescription pills, marijuana, and a young child sitting dangerously close to the narcotics inside the vehicle.

According to authorities, deputies conducted the stop near North Beal Extension and Schneider Drive after observing a traffic violation. During the investigation, an Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office K9 alerted deputies to the possible presence of illegal drugs inside the car.

A subsequent search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered nearly 43 grams of cocaine, oxycodone pills without a valid prescription, and marijuana.

Deputies also discovered a three-year-old child in the back seat of the vehicle who was reportedly not secured in a car seat and was not wearing a seatbelt. Investigators said the child was within arm’s reach of the narcotics, raising serious safety concerns.

The driver, 48-year-old Don Kenney Brown, was taken into custody and now faces multiple charges, including:

• Trafficking in cocaine
• Child abuse without great bodily harm
• Possession of a controlled substance without a prescription
• Resisting an officer without violence

Authorities transported Brown to the Okaloosa County Jail following his arrest.

The investigation remains ongoing.