GILCHRIST COUNTY, Florida – Deputies with the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Bell, FL, man on March 13, 2026, following an extensive investigation and coordinated efforts with multiple law enforcement partners.
Jeffery D. Long, 45, had been wanted in Gilchrist County in connection with a December 2025 incident in which he fled from deputies during a traffic stop. According to investigators, Long led law enforcement on a pursuit through fields before abandoning his vehicle and escaping on foot.
During the incident, deputies recovered multiple firearms, ammunition, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia from the vehicle Long had been driving.
Investigators also learned during the course of the case that Long had previously stated he would shoot law enforcement officers if they attempted to apprehend him. Despite those concerns, deputies and investigators continued working the case and were ultimately able to safely take him into custody.
Long now faces several charges in Gilchrist County, including fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, possession of a controlled substance, resisting an officer without violence, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Authorities also discovered Long had an active warrant out of Dixie County dating back to 2023 for violation of probation related to burglary and grand theft charges. He was taken into custody on that warrant as well.
The Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office said Long’s arrest was made possible through continued investigative work and cooperation among multiple agencies.
Officials thanked several partner agencies for assisting during the investigation, including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Highway Patrol, Cross City Correctional Institution, Lancaster Correctional Institution, Mayo Correctional Institution, and Gilchrist County Emergency Services.
Long was transported to the Gilchrist County Jail, where he remains in custody on the Gilchrist County charges as well as the outstanding Dixie County warrant.
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