A 19-year-old is arrested by Walton County Sheriff’s Office following a road rage incident on Highway 98 Saturday.
On November 29th, a Walton County Sheriff Deputy responded to reports of an armed road rage incident near the area of Hamon Avenue and Highway 98 in Santa Rosa Beach involving the driver of a black Toyota Tacoma brandishing a firearm at another vehicle.
As the deputy approached MC Davis Boulevard, he got information that the suspect vehicle had turned northbound toward the Cumberland Farms gas station. The Tacoma was quickly located parked on the west side of the parking lot.
When he initiated a traffic stop, the deputy saw two individuals get back into the truck, with the vehicle briefly shifting into reverse before being placed back into park. Both occupants were ordered out of the truck and detained safely with the assistance of another responding deputy.
During the investigation, it was found that Walker Phillips,19, of Troy, Alabama, had pointed a black handgun at another vehicle during a road rage encounter.
Witnesses told deputies Phillips became angry while attempting to pass another vehicle and retrieved a handgun from the truck’s center console, pointing it at the victims.
A black Glock 43 handgun and a Winchester firearm were found inside the vehicle.
Phillips was arrested and was transported to the Walton County Jail where he faces aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges as well as possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
With the holiday season in full swing, we encourage our residents, visitors, motorists, to remember something. There is already so much hate, ugliness, impatience, and violence in the world. Please, remember to take a deep breath and realize moments of frustration pass and typically they are not worth ruining your life or someone else’s life over.
Be safe. Be smart. Be kind.
