for immediate release
August 1, 2003
N E W S R E L E A S E
A Fort Walton Beach man who fired a shot in the direction of Deputies during a
six-hour standoff is charged with Aggravated Assault With a Firearm on Law
Enforcement Officers. David Dean Hammer, age 41 (5-16-1962) of 221 Moriarity
Street, Fort Walton Beach, was taken into custody on the Destin Bridge at 5:33 this
morning (Friday morning), approximately one hour after firing a shot from a .22 caliber
rifle in the direction of at least seven Okaloosa County Sheriff's Deputies.
Approximately one hour later, Hammer approached a Deputy on the eastbound sidewalk of the Destin Bridge, ignoring orders to drop his gun. Deputy Royce Hanson temporarily disabled the suspect with three "bean bag" shots from a "less lethal" shotgun. Hammer was taken by ambulance to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, where he was treated and released for injuries sustained in the incident.
The standoff began after Eglin Range Patrol notified the Okaloosa County sheriff's Office at 11:22 last night (Thursday night) that it had found Hammer in his 2002 blue Chevrolet pickup truck parked at the beach access at the southwest end of the Destin Bridge. Earlier in the evening, the Fort Walton Beach Police Department had alerted other area law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for that vehicle and its operator, who was reported to be armed and potentially suicidal.
Members of the Okaloosa County Sheriff's County Sheriff's Office Special Response Team (SRT), Crisis Negotiation Unit, and Marine Unit were activated during the standoff. The Destin Bridge was closed to all traffic from approximately 4:30 until approximately 5:40 this morning.
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for more information contact Rick Hord, Public Information Officer
(850) 651-7420