FREEPORT — A 50-year-old man was arrested Sunday evening after threatening to kill himself and "shoot it out with the cops," according to a Walton County Sheriff's Office press release.
Deputies with the Sheriff’s Office responded to 71 North Ave. after receiving a third party call that Anthony D. Knutson was planning on killing himself. Knutson was allegedly involved in a domestic altercation.
The alleged victim of that fight told officials Knutson was armed with a gun and said wanted to “shoot it out with the cops”. Knutson ran out of the house and then chased the victim off with a baseball bat, the release said.
Deputies found Knutson when they arrived at the North Avenue home. The Freeport man threatened law enforcement saying, “If you step foot in my yard, I will blow your brains out,” the release said.
Knutson then turned and went back into his house where he was armed, the release said.
Deputies were able to speak to Knutson in an attempt to calm him down, but he did not surrender to law enforcement. Knutson then cranked up a dirt bike in his garage and left the scene. Officials and police dogs were deployed to the area and were able to locate Knutson hiding in the woods in the area of east of his residence.
Knutson was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, battery and resisting an officer without violence. He was transported and booked into the Walton County Department of Corrections, the release said.