U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE TASK FORCE ARRESTS ARMED SUSPECT AFTER STANDOFF IN MOSSY HEAD
This morning, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Regional Task Force, made up of law enforcement officers with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office and other area agencies, successfully arrested a suspect following a standoff at a residence in Mossy Head.
Michael Stephen Boone, 38, of Mossy Head was wanted by Niceville Police Department for charges of aggravated stalking, making false reports of a bomb, threatening serious bodily harm to a law enforcement officer, and issuing written threats to kill.
At approximately 8:05 AM, USMS Task Force members arrived at the residence on Seven Oaks Rd and determined the suspect was barricaded inside a camper on the property. Despite repeated commands to come out, Boone refused. Officers broke two windows and deployed an OC (pepper spray) canister into the camper, but the suspect responded with death threats to the law enforcement officers on scene and claimed to be armed.
Shortly thereafter, a fire was observed inside the camper, believed to have been started by the suspect. As the fire intensified, Boone was forced to exit the trailer and attempted to flee on foot. Task force members immediately pursued and, after a 100-yard chase, were able to take him into custody. Despite continuing to resist arrest, Boone was ultimately restrained and placed into a patrol vehicle. Walton County Fire Rescue arrived shortly after and quickly put out the camper fire.
Boone was taken to a local hospital for a medical evaluation. After being cleared and while being placed in the back of a patrol car to be transported to the Walton County Jail, he spit in the face of a Walton County Sheriff’s Office deputy and threatened to kill the deputy’s wife and children.
In addition to his existing charges out of Niceville, Boone now faces charges of arson, death threats to law enforcement, resisting arrest without violence, and battery on a law enforcement officer.
