DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Following a 56-hour search, police announced the man accused of shooting a Daytona Beach police officer has been arrested and law enforcement agencies are chiming in on his capture.
The Daytona Beach Police Department said early Saturday morning the suspect, 29-year-old Othal Wallace, was found in a treehouse outside of Atlanta with multiple flash-bang grenades, rifle plates, body armor, two rifles, two handguns and several boxes of ammunition.
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Chief Jakari Young said several Daytona Beach police officers were there for his arrest and placed him in Jason Raynor’s handcuffs, the officer who Wallace is accused of shooting and is still critically injured in the hospital. Raynor’s family was notified early Saturday morning of the suspect’s arrest.
“I woke them up to tell them the news, so you can as you can imagine there was a huge sigh of relief,” he said. “I’m hoping they can get a few hours of sleep and now just solely focus on officer Raynor and his recovery.”
Young also said Wallace told authorities after his arrest, “You guys know who I am. You know what I’m capable of. It could have been a lot worse.”
The search for Wallace included local law enforcement agencies as well as federal support, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation joining the search Wednesday night, and those departments have been taking to social media to share that the suspect has been taken into custody.
“I’m extremely proud of this organization for their response to this horrific event. I also want to thank the Volusia Sheriff’s Office because they were with us, pretty much immediately, from the time this incident occurred. They were locked in step with us,” Young said. “Sheriff’s sent out the mutual aid requests and we had agencies from all over Central Florida that responded into the area into parking this manhunt. And I’m extremely grateful to all of them.”
See the statements below:
IN CUSTODY!!! pic.twitter.com/YgaqVHMQwM
— Chief Jakari Young (@ChiefJakari) June 26, 2021
Great job getting this suspect in custody and off the streets! https://t.co/vr2xvOz7Zu
— Sheriff John Mina (@SheriffMina) June 26, 2021
BREAKING: Subject Othal Wallace is in law enforcement custody. #FBI #Jacksonville thanks all of our partners for their assistance in this investigation. @DaytonaBchPD is expected to announce details within the hour.https://t.co/KrgRI4QuC0
— FBI Jacksonville (@FBIJacksonville) June 26, 2021
Othal Wallace has been captured! There will be a press conference at 5:00 am this morning. pic.twitter.com/jyI6nYI5Ud
— Daytona Beach Police (@DaytonaBchPD) June 26, 2021
Posted by Eustis Police Department on Saturday, June 26, 2021
Great news! Glad he is behind bars. We continue to pray for Officer Raynor's recovery. https://t.co/gjwv64MVrB
— Orange County Sheriff's Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) June 26, 2021
Awesome news this morning! https://t.co/TxhgW9qqEc
— Polk County Sheriff 🚔 (@PolkCoSheriff) June 26, 2021
Othal Wallace has been CAPTURED! #DaytonaStrong #RaynorStrong
Posted by Marion County Sheriff's Office on Saturday, June 26, 2021
The suspect in the vicious shooting of Police Officer Jason Raynor was apprehended by Georgia police at a black nationalist paramilitary encampment. There is no place for hate in Florida. Our law enforcement will be protected. Justice will be swift. https://t.co/ZUIrCdUgia
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) June 26, 2021
If you're able, a great way to celebrate today's arrest would be to donate to Officer Jason Raynor's GoFundMe. If you can't, your prayers are needed and so appreciated. https://t.co/Yu6Ghtl0UB
— Mike Chitwood (@SheriffChitwood) June 26, 2021
I guess Othal Wallace found out the men and women looking for him were Not F-ing Around. GREAT JOB!!!
— Mike Chitwood (@SheriffChitwood) June 26, 2021
EVERYONE please keep the prayers coming for Officer Jason Raynor.
(Pictured - Othal Wallace in Officer Raynor's handcuffs) pic.twitter.com/ZJVyzCSxVh
#Captured. The manhunt is over. The suspect is in custody. Our thoughts and prayers are with the DBPD Officer Jayson Raynor, his family, friends and colleagues. #RaynorStrong https://t.co/Kxnc1n6zfu pic.twitter.com/pH3JsUhPap
— FDLE (@fdlepio) June 26, 2021