A man armed with a knife who threatened to stab an apartment complex repairman today was taken into custody following a two hour stand-off with deputies from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
37-year old William Watson, who had been released from jail earlier this month in connection with a battery charge, is now under arrest for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
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Deputies were called to Crosslake Cove Apartments off Lewis Drive near Fort Walton Beach around 11:15 this morning in response to an armed disturbance.
The victim called 9-1-1 after he says Watson threatened to stab him in the neck while holding a steak knife.
When deputies made contact with Watson, he refused to leave his apartment and stated he would stab anyone who knocked on his door.
The OCSO Special Response Team (SRT) and Crisis Negotiations Unit responded in an attempt to persuade Watson to come out of his apartment peacefully.
Ultimately the SRT deployed tear gas and quickly took Watson into custody without further incident.
Additional charges are pending.
Navarre Newspaper reminds our readers that William Watson is presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.
