Darwin Award Winner? Bag Bearing Trafficker’s Name Contained Fentanyl and Methamphetamine

BAY COUNTY, FL – Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford announced the arrest of Mason Jacob Caldwell on multiple drug charges after he led deputies and investigators on a vehicle and foot pursuit.

On December 25, 2025, investigators with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, Special Investigations Division, and Field Services Division attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Mason Jacob Caldwell as he was observed speeding over the Hathaway Bridge.

When deputies initiated the traffic stop, Caldwell sped away into Panama City Beach. Caldwell eventually exited the vehicle and continued to flee on foot through a nearby residential neighborhood, eluding law enforcement.

During the foot pursuit, Caldwell discarded a bag containing 5.2 grams of fentanyl and 26.3 grams of methamphetamine, both trafficking-level amounts. The bag also contained personal items bearing Caldwell’s name.

Caldwell was located the following day at a hotel in Panama City and taken into custody without incident. Caldwell was charged with the following offenses:

Trafficking in Fentanyl
Trafficking in Methamphetamine
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Fleeing and Eluding Law Enforcement
Resisting an Officer Without Violence
Violation of Probation

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to aggressively pursuing anyone involved in activity that threatens the safety of our community.