Former EB man is jailed

Flees deputies and homeowner fires shots as suspect runs from his shed

A former East Brewton resident is facing multiple charges after being accused of crashing a stolen vehicle and later hiding in a storage shed outside a residence in the Ridge Road area before being captured after the homeowner fired shots as the suspect ran from the shed.

Gary Edelstein, 29, 1986 Edelstein Lane, Westville, Fla., was arrested Jan. 4 and charged with attempting to elude, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, receiving stolen property and burglary. He was transported to the Escambia County Detention Center in Brewton and jailed on $60,000 bond. Records show Edelstein previously had an address listed on Williamson Street in East Brewton.

According to information released by Escambia County Sheriff Heath Jackson, deputies were patrolling the Ridge Road area on Jan. 3 when they attempted to stop a dark colored SUV that was registered as stolen out of Baldwin County.

The SUV fled from the deputies and later crashed into a fence after hitting a fire hydrant. The suspect exited the vehicle and ran on foot.

Sheriff Jackson said a perimeter was established and K-9 tracking dogs from the Alabama Department of Corrections were dispatched to the scene but the suspect was not located.

About 7 a.m. the next morning a woman was attempting to enter an outside storage room near her home when she discovered the suspect, later identified as Edelstein, inside the storage room.

The suspect then fled the storage room and ran toward the woods with the woman's husband giving chase.

Sheriff Jackson said the husband discharged his firearm as the suspect was fleeing but no one was injured.

Sheriff's deputies and the K-9 unit were dispatched and Edelstein was captured hiding in the woods.

Jackson thanked the Alabama Department of Corrections' K-9 unit, the Ridge Road Fire Department, Brewton City Public Works, the Escambia County Rescue Squad and the citizens of Ridge Road for being supportive of the sheriff's office's efforts.