A weekend drive turned into a confrontation on Highway 331 South, ending with a Florida man behind bars on a slew of felony charges. On February 8, around 1:00 p.m., what started as a typical traffic grievance reportedly escalated into a dangerous display of brandished weapons and blocked lanes.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call from motorists who claimed a man had pointed a handgun at them near the Sherwood Road intersection. According to the victims, they were traveling north when a white Ford Explorer, driven by 33-year-old Blackie Alvarez, of Bonifay, began tailgating them, honking, and speeding.
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The situation took a turn when Alvarez allegedly pulled ahead, slammed on his brakes to bring their vehicle to a full stop, and leveled a firearm at them.
Law enforcement moved quickly to intercept the Ford Explorer. Officers from the DeFuniak Springs Police and the City Marshal’s Office located the vehicle shortly after the call. Upon being stopped, Alvarez exited the SUV, pulled a black handgun from his waistband, and set it on the roof of the car. A subsequent search by deputies also turned up two sets of metal knuckles in his pockets.
While the physical evidence was being processed, Alvarez remained silent, refusing to speak with investigators on the scene. Records checks revealed he was already a convicted felon, making his possession of the handgun a serious legal violation.
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Furthermore, authorities discovered an active warrant for his arrest out of Bay County related to unpaid child support.
The man now faces a list of charges, including two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of false imprisonment, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was also cited for carrying concealed weapons and driving without a valid license.
Alvarez is being held at the Walton County Jail with a bond set at $235,000.
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