Wendy Greene, 55, was booked Dec. 29 into Santa Rosa County Jail after cops discovered a man they were pursuing had been concealed inside a mobile home in Rebecca’s Hollow Trailer Park in Holley.
The arrest happened after a Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted a traffic stop near the trailer park, pulling over a Dodge truck with an expired tag.
The driver of the truck, later identified as Anthony Grindstaff, initially stopped but then fled. However, he circled the block and returned back, leaving the truck in the middle of the road in front of the park.
Deputy C. Kessinger saw the suspect leave the vehicle and run toward the trailer park.
A passenger, Jeffrey Lauris Long, 52, of Opp, Alabama, remained inside the truck and identified the driver for police, telling them he was trying to convince Grindstaff not to flee, stating he didn’t want to be part of that. Long was booked for an out-of-county warrant.
Jeffrey Lauris Long of Opp, Alabama
K9 units were brought in to help search for Grindstaff, and Greene was seen walking away from the trailer where the suspect was eventually discovered.
Deputies requested to search the trailer and although Greene was initially hesitant the arrest reports states she later provided such. Ultimately Grindstaff was located behind pieces of walling which were moved into position to conceal him.
Grindstaff told police Greene admitted previously concealing people in that space before.
Cops located a 1 gram crystal substance which tested presumptive positive for methamphetamine in Grindstaff’s right front pocket.
Anthony Taylor Grindstaff, 37, of Baker, Florida was booked for:
- Third-degree felony possession of a controlled substance without a prescription
- Third-degree felony false imprisonment (fleeing with Long as a passenger)
- Third-degree felony fleeing/eluding law enforcement
- First-degree misdemeanor drug equipment possession
- First-degree misdemeanor resisting an officer without violence
- Third-degree felony driving with suspended/revoked license – third or subsequent violation
Records show Grindstaff had been booked Dec. 20 into Santa Rosa Jail on a first-degree misdemeanor charge of withholding child or spousal support. He was released on $1,070 bond the following day.
Greene and Grindstaff will be arraigned Jan. 23 before First Judicial Circuit Judge Clifton Drake.
