Man arrested in Pace for attempted murder, threatening officer

Wallace’s arrest came after officers responded to a Pace apartment complex at around 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 9 in reference to a stabbing. According to the arrest report, upon arrival at the apartment complex officers located the victim of the crime, who was suffering from a stab would to the upper left side of his neck. Officers reported the victim was alert and speaking and stated that Wallace stabbed him; shortly after, the victim was transported to the hospital.

While investigating the incident, deputies said a resident from one of the apartments rushed over and informed them a man had forced his way into her apartment. The report notes a K-9 unit was on scene and entered the apartment, where they found Wallace hiding under a blanket in one of the bedrooms. They detained him, and the resident of the apartment was able to provide a statement.

According to the woman’s statement, she opened her front door after seeing multiple emergency vehicles pull into the apartment complex. Shortly after, she said a man forced his way through the door into her apartment, and she grabbed her child and exited the apartment to alert deputies.

After taking the witness’s statement, deputies said they went to the patrol vehicle where Wallace was being held and noticed he had slipped his handcuffs to the front of his body. According to the report, Wallace was then removed from the vehicle and struggled against multiple deputies and before he was eventually placed on the ground in the prone position.

Deputies said they attempted to remove Wallace’s handcuffs to place them back in the correct position. Meanwhile Wallace “continued to resist their efforts by pulling his arms, kicking, yelling and flailing his legs, almost kicking (an officer) in his genitalia,” Wallace’s arrest report states.

The report also states Wallace made confessions prior to disposition while fighting the officers.

Due to his resistance, Wallace ultimately was put in leg and hobble restraints.

Officers later learned Wallace had an active felony warrant for Battery and Hindering Communication, and Wallace was transported to the Santa Rosa County Jail. During transport Wallace allegedly threatened the driving officer, telling him that when he is released, he would find him and “‘slit his throat.’”

Deputies interviewed the stabbing victim while in the hospital in hopes of better ascertaining what caused the incident.

According to the victim, Wallace was a passenger in his vehicle and accused the victim of turning him into Crime Stoppers for his active warrant. The victim denied this, and shortly after Wallace allegedly pushed him into his seat and elbowed him in the mouth. After being elbowed, the victim reported turning to look at Wallace and then being stabbed in the neck with a pocketknife. The victim fled the scene to his girlfriend’s apartment, stating he believed he was going to die in front of his 13-year-old stepdaughter.

Deputies also spoke to the victim’s doctor, who stated that the stab wound came in “close proximity of (the victim’s) interior left jugular vein and his carotid gland.” The doctor said if the injury was in any other location, the victim could have bled out or suffered a stroke.

A pocketknife consistent with the victim’s description was found at the scene of the crime with dried blood on its blade.

Wallace initially stated he would speak to authorities at the jail; after being read his Miranda Rights, however, he stated he wanted to speak with an attorney before speaking to law enforcement.

Wallace was placed under arrest for Attempted Second Degree Homicide without premeditation, Burglary of an Occupied Structure, Battery on a Specified Person, Resisting an Officer with Violence and Threatening Death or Harm to a Law Enforcement Officer. Wallace remains in jail.