NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
August 7, 2006
Contact: Michele Nicholson
Public Information Officer
(850) 651-7420
ARREST LEADS TO ARSENAL INSIDE SUV
A
33-year old William Gerald Thomas of
Okaloosa deputies called to the scene say witnesses claim Thomas was harassing
two 14 year old girls at the motel pool. When the teens’ parents intervened,
Thomas got a 22-caliber rifle out of his 2004 GMC Yukon Denali and began
threatening a bystander.
Thomas’ acquaintance managed to wrestle the rifle away and secure it, but
Thomas then retrieved a .308 caliber Browning machine gun, engaged it, and then
started waving it side to side at the involved parties and other hotel patrons.
The machine gun was wrestled away from Thomas and secured.
After executing a search warrant on Thomas’ SUV, investigators found
thirty-eight weapons ranging from various high velocity assault rifles to
50-caliber sniper rifles and multiple handguns. Deputies also confiscated more
than 2000 rounds of ammunition.
Thomas is being held at the Okaloosa County Department of Corrections in
Crestview.
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