For Immediate Release 

June 26, 2017

Walton County, Fla – A Missouri man was arrested early Monday morning after threatening a Walton County Tourist Development Council employee with a gun.

Around 2:45 this morning, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a verbal disturbance on the beach in Inlet Beach. When WCSO deputies arrived on scene, the victim stated he had been collecting items left on the beach after hours when he was confronted by the suspect, later identified as Richard Chase Murray, 43, of Missouri. Murray stood in front of the Walton County TDC employee’s truck pointing a flashlight and a gun at the victim, threatening to shoot him if he did not allow Murray to retrieve his beach tent, cooler and beach chairs out of the back of the truck.

The victim identified himself as a county employee to Murray and explained that he was enforcing Walton County’s Leave No Trace ordinance, which was implemented to reduce environmental impacts on the beaches of South Walton. The suspect continued to threaten to shoot the county employee if he did not give him his property. After retrieving his belongings from the county vehicle, Murray left the scene.

Richard Chase Murray was later located by WCSO deputies and was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and transported to the Walton County Jail.