Fort Walton Beach man accused of striking store owner, child neglect

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. – A Fort Walton Beach man has been arrested after he allegedly struck the owner of a Beal Parkway store and left a child unattended while at the store, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said.

According to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), Ryan Williamson, 39, was involved in an altercation with the store owner and, after being taken into custody, revealed that he left a three-year-old autistic child unattended at his home.

The store owner said Williamson entered the store around 2 a.m. Thursday and told him he still wanted items despite his credit card being declined and that he was “FBI.”

Williamson reportedly left the store but returned and allegedly went behind the cash register and took cigarettes from a display area. The store’s owner refused him service.

Around 2:30 a.m., it is alleged that Williamson came in again and tried to take a $500 display item. The owner said when he tried to stop Williamson, Williamson punched him in the chest, so he chased Williamson out with a baseball bat.

Responding deputies said when they attempted to put Williamson in handcuffs, he refused commands and pulled away in an effort to break free. Although a deputy deployed his taser, it had no impact, and Williamson reportedly grabbed the device.

After eventually being taken into custody, Williamson reportedly told deputies a three-year-old non-verbal, autistic child was alone at his home. Deputies went to the address and said they found the toddler unsupervised but unharmed.

Williamson’s charges include robbery, resisting an officer, child neglect, and depriving an officer of a protective device.