for immediate release
December 17, 2004

N E W S   R E L E A S E

A sharp-eyed citizen who copied a tag number, and several witnesses who obtained a description of the suspect's pick-up truck have helped the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office arrest an individual accused of shooting at passing cars with a slingshot.

            Brian Thomas Hicks, age 20 (11-15-1984), was taken into custody early this morning (Friday morning), at his residence, 840 Tanager Road, Fort Walton Beach, and arrested in connection with five incidents in which motorists reported vehicle windows shot out by the occupant of a passing truck, plus one incident in which a window was shot out of a parked vehicle. Most of the incidents were reported late last night (Thursday night) on South Avenue and on Lang Road.

Hicks was arrested on five felony counts of Shooting a Deadly Projectile into an Occupied Vehicle, and five counts of Criminal Mischief.

When questioned by Okaloosa County Sheriff's Deputies, Hicks admitted using a "wrist rocket" slingshot to shoot ball bearings or rocks at seven or eight car windows in recent days.

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for more information contact Rick Hord, Public Information Officer

(850) 651-7420

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