A Florida man is facing multiple charges after authorities say he struck a pedestrian and fled, leading deputies on a pursuit that ended at the gates of Eglin Air Force Base, one of the U.S. Air Force’s largest installations.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office in northwest Florida responded around noon to reports of a pedestrian hit near a commercial stretch of Beal Parkway in Fort Walton Beach. The victim suffered significant injuries, and the driver involved had already fled the scene.
Deputies located the suspect vehicle a short time later. According to investigators, the car’s hood and windshield were heavily damaged, and smoke was pouring from the engine. The driver—identified as 35-year-old George Henry Harchar—allegedly refused to stop when deputies attempted a traffic stop.
The pursuit continued toward Eglin Air Force Base, passing near the Air Force Armament Museum before reaching the base’s west gate. Authorities say Harchar struck a lane closure sign in the checkpoint area before coming to a stop.
When Harchar exited the vehicle, deputies ordered him to show his hands. According to the sheriff’s office, he refused to comply and stepped toward deputies, who then deployed a Taser and took him into custody.
The incident forced Eglin’s west gate to close for several hours while military security forces, the Florida Highway Patrol, and county deputies coordinated their response. A traffic advisory was issued due to the disruption on roads surrounding the base.
Harchar now faces charges from three agencies. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office charged him with fleeing and eluding with lights and sirens activated and resisting an officer without violence. The Florida Highway Patrol is pursuing additional charges related to the hit-and-run crash, and Eglin Air Force Base security personnel are filing their own charges connected to the gate incident.
He is being held at the county jail in Crestview, Florida.
Sheriff Eric Aden credited the coordinated effort among the agencies involved for bringing the pursuit to a safe end.
© 2025 TheSaltySoldier.com. All rights reserved.
Reproduction or redistribution of this article is strictly prohibited without written consent.
