Traffic Stop Leads to Six Felony Charges for Destin Man

March 2, 2018

Fort Walton Beach, FL – A traffic stop early Friday morning by the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Unit led to guns, heroin, and methamphetamine in the possession of a convicted felon.

34-year old Matthew Christopher Herring of Sandalwood Drive in Destin was spotted on Beal Parkway around one a.m. driving a motorcycle with no tag lights or visible license tag.

After being stopped he was eventually asked if he had any weapons on him. Herring said no but then started the motorcycle. A deputy was able to stop him from fleeing but Herring refused to get on the ground.

Inside Herring’s motorcycle jacket deputies found a .38 revolver and .22 Derringer. Inside his backpack was heroin, methamphetamine, a scale, unused jewelers baggies, and an unopened packed said to contain a Suboxone, in the same category as heroin and meth.

According to the arrest report, during a post miranda interview, Herring stated the reason he did not tell the deputies he had the two handguns was because he is a convicted felon. A criminal history check confirmed he was a convicted felon and revealed he has a permanent restraining order placed against him.

Herring is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, carrying a concealed firearm, possession of a firearm while in the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm while having a domestic violence injunction, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and possession of a controlled substance, as well as resisting arrest.