Santa Rosa Sheriff's Release
On Monday, deputies with the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office responded to a suspicious vehicle traveling eastbound on Hwy 98 in Navarre. The caller advised there was a large Pensacola style pelican statue hanging out of the vehicle.
A Santa Rosa Deputy located the vehicle and conducted an investigatory traffic stop. Contact was made with the driver and three passengers. When asked about the pelican statue, the driver stated he knew nothing about the statue.
Dispatch contacted Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and was told the pelican was just stolen from Pensacola Beach from in front of the Sand Shaker Bar. We were advised owner of the pelican was persuing charges and the value was estimated at $3,500. Reports indicate there were witnesses to the theft.
The four occupants of the vehicle were arrested and transported to the Santa Rosa County jail. The pelican was subsequently returned to the owner. Each were issued a $7,500 bond – charged with larceny, grand theft – felony.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office worked with the Escambia County Deputies to resolve this unusual case.
Arrested were:
Daniel Joe Fureigh – 43
Michael Cary Duncan – 40
David Allen Darden – 41
Richard A. Querney – 43
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Pelican Statue 'kidnapped' and recovered; four arrested