MARIANNA, Fla. (WDNews) – A Georgia man is in custody after allegedly breaking into a Marianna residence twice and threatening its occupants with a hammer.
Marianna Police arrested Gary Danuail Wallace, 36, of Bainbridge, Georgia, in the early hours of Tuesday, March 11, 2025. He is charged with burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, burglary of an occupied dwelling with assault while armed, criminal mischief under $200, and petit theft.
Authorities responded to a burglary in progress at a home on Jefferson Street just after midnight. A suspect armed with a hammer had forced his way inside but fled before officers arrived. At the scene, police found a vehicle running with its driver’s door open in a nearby parking lot. As officers approached the home, they heard a loud argument inside and stepped in to investigate.
Inside, they discovered Wallace standing in the doorway, still holding the hammer. Officers detained him without incident. The victim and her male companion, who appeared shaken, were inside the residence.
Investigators determined that Wallace and the victim had connected through a social media app three weeks earlier. After she cut off contact, Wallace traveled from Georgia to Marianna and entered her apartment while she was away. Inside, he found another man’s wallet and took it, hoping to learn his identity. Wallace then waited inside the residence for the victim and her companion to return.
When they arrived, he confronted them with a hammer. After the victim threatened to call law enforcement, Wallace left but returned a short time later and forced entry again. Once inside, he swung the hammer and damaged property just before officers arrived and took him into custody.
Wallace is being held as the investigation continues.
