Driver Pulls Gun on Cyclists This Morning

That line from a few good men by Jack "You can't handle the truth"....I love that line...and it is so true...some people can't handle the truth....but I think everyone deserves nothing less than the truth

the truth will set you free. But first, it will piss you off.-Gloria Steinem

Grayt siggy line!

I read yesterday's article in the Defuniak/Breeze, and was surprised to learn that a SoWaller found the orange truck, the driver admitted that he's an @sshole (my interpretation), and that he was driving WITHOUT HAVING A LICENSE.

Here guys.......

Cyclists accosted by motorist

By LEAH STRATMANN
Due to quick thinking on the part of a cyclist and community involvement, a motorist who waved a gun at early morning cyclists has been identified and a complaint again him sworn out.
On Sunday, Aug. 10, Craig Baronowski and his cycling team, wearing team shirts as they do every morning, were traveling west at 6:30 in the morning. According to a post Baronowski made on SoWal.com, here is what happened:
“This morning at 6:30 am I was riding my bike with three friends down 30-a heading west. There were absolutely no cars on the road and we were passing through WaterSound where they have the medians in the middle of the road. A mid-sized pick-up truck honked and then violently swerved around us passing us very closely. 
 My friend gestured for the driver to come back and talk with us. There was no reason for his aggression so early in the morning. The driver of the metallic orange pickup truck hit his breaks [sic] and pulled a black handgun out of his driver’s side window and started waving it at us. He then sped away.
“I immediately called 911 and we met with two very nice Walton County Police Officers and filed a complaint. The officers were very nice and took the situation very serious and said they have all officers in the area looking for the car. 
 "If anyone sees a mid-sized metallic orange pickup truck with a male driver, please notify the police.
 "In all of my years riding I have been yelled at, honked at, spit at, had things thrown at me, been run off the road into a ditch, been intentionally hit with a car's mirror, had a Harley sneak up on me and rev his engine to scare me and then laugh at me, two weeks ago had a driver laugh and cheer when we had a cyclist crash...but I have NEVER EVER had a gun pulled on me for riding a bicycle on a Sunday morning.
 "I am from the west coast and still learning about Southern culture. I am still trying to figure out this whole aggression thing towards cyclists...but I am sure this was not a friendly southern gesture.”
After this was posted, an alert citizen spotted the truck at the driver’s home and called sheriff’s deputies. Baronowski said the deputies went to the home and the driver admitted to the incident. The deputies told Baronowki the driver “showed no remorse” whatever over the incident, saying the cyclists had no business on the road.
“When the incident happened it was less than one-eighth of a mile from his house. There was no one on the road and he lit out that fast from his home. He literally pulled out into the street and we were there and he freaked out. I sponsor a cycling team and we ride respectfully. We are not just random tourists and we are out there every day in our uniforms,” Baronowski said.
“We will press charges. We were in our team uniforms and we ride that road every morning. If he had been the least bit remorseful, I might have let it go, but this guy needs to have his gun taken away,” Baronowski said.
The affidavits have been filed and local law enforcement is waiting to find out whether or not the state’s attorney will file charges. According to Lt. Derral Skinner of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, it may be late this week before local officials know about the next step. The driver was driving with a suspended license and Baronowski said deputies told him waving the gun and general aggression constituted assault.
Cyclists in the county have long complained about the failure of motorists to share the road, and ignorance of the law is rampant. After posting his comment on the SoWal Website, the following response was posted, by someone using the handle FLORIDAGIRL.
“I suspect he thought you were shooting him a bird. Not a friendly move. This is an unincorporated area; people can carry weapons if they want. Secondly, the county went to a lot of trouble building a "BIKE PATH" for the tourists that like to ride bikes. Most native Walton countians don't ride bikes, too many miles just to get anywhere. Most vehicles that drive on highways have to be street legal, ie, lights and the ability to drive the speed limit. Highway 30A is a narrow road without any shoulder, and riding a bicycle in the middle of the highway is dangerous, inconsiderate, and very irritating. When I see a cyclist in the middle of the road, I think, why did the county put in a bike path? What, do they think they own the road? They have to [sic] much leisure time on there [sic] hands! And when they don't move out of the way, they have just made a statement that they don't care about anyone else on the highway, or where the vehicles have to go. They are on vacation, and to heck with the rest of the world!”
Citizens in south Walton County identified the writer of the above post as Adrienne Walline Campbell, a fact she confirmed Aug. 19 at a meeting of the South Walton Mosquito Control District. Campbell is a candidate for the board seat currently held by Jim Crawford.
The path referred to is a multi-use path and not just a bicycle path. The path, named the Timpoochee Trail, has long been a source of consternation to users. Many impediments exist making it difficult for anyone to use the path. Development along CR-30A has created subdivisions which motorists must block to view traffic and exit neighborhoods. See sidebar and photos.


Also........
Bike Safety Sidebar

Dan McClary, a member of the Friends of Timpoochee Trail and an avid cyclist, has identified the following key points regarding safe cycling in Walton County.
“The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) and public works has failed to:
"Remove unsafe and illegal parking spaces adjoining the path and located in the in the right-of-way (ROW) (Lily Pads, Easter Lake Landscaping).*Vehicles block sight lines, park on the path, and make travel unsafe.
"Remove real estate signs, garbage bins, dumpsters and other fixed objects in the ROW and adjacent to the path that hinder visibility and make the path less safe.
"Prevent business owners from parking their vehicles on the path.*
"Deploy the safety signs we requested in March 2006.* For example, we believed Commissioner Meadows in May 2008 when she told us the project would be finished by August 2008.*But we have not seen any work on the sign foundations since then.
"Properly maintain the path and routinely remove sand, gravel and other debris from the path.
"Stripe crosswalks at intersections and development entrances as promised as part of the signage project.
"Properly clear sight triangles as promised this spring.**
“The BCC released a 'draft ordinance' that is ill conceived and unenforceable.*It would require cyclists traveling more than 8 mph to ride on the road yet allow motorized vehicles used for 'maintenance' to use the path.* I guess they are choosing to ignore the recently approved xeriscape ordinance which requires drought-tolerant plants.* The county is telling us that plants are more important than people when it comes to the path.”
*

After this was posted, an alert citizen spotted the truck at the driver?s home and called sheriff?s deputies. Baronowski said the deputies went to the home and the driver admitted to the incident. The deputies told Baronowki the driver ?showed no remorse? whatever over the incident, saying the cyclists had no business on the road.

?When the incident happened it was less than one-eighth of a mile from his house. There was no one on the road and he lit out that fast from his home. He literally pulled out into the street and we were there and he freaked out. I sponsor a cycling team and we ride respectfully. We are not just random tourists and we are out there every day in our uniforms,? Baronowski said.

?We will press charges. We were in our team uniforms and we ride that road every morning. If he had been the least bit remorseful, I might have let it go, but this guy needs to have his gun taken away,? Baronowski said.

The affidavits have been filed and local law enforcement is waiting to find out whether or not the state?s attorney will file charges. According to Lt. Derral Skinner of the Walton County Sheriff?s Office, it may be late this week before local officials know about the next step. The driver was driving with a suspended license and Baronowski said deputies told him waving the gun and general aggression constituted assault.

Wow! What a statement. At least the bicyclists had the right to be operating their vehicles on the road, unlike the driver of the orange truck.

The thing I find disappointing about the Beach Breeze article is that the guy apparantly implicated himself in "Assault with a deadly weapon" or some lesser version of that AND he was driving without a license, yet it appears that he was not arrested and that the case has been referred to the DA for a decision on whether to press charges.

Seems a little lenient to me, but I'm very uninformed about law enforcement procedure.

Does one have to keep a pistol in his lap in order to pull it out so quickly? I cannot even grab my camera fast enough to wave it when passing a bicyclists, unless of course it was pre-meditated, and I was ready just in case I saw a bicyclist.

Does one have to keep a pistol in his lap in order to pull it out so quickly? I cannot even grab my camera fast enough to wave it when passing a bicyclists, unless of course it was pre-meditated, and I was ready just in case I saw a bicyclist.

Who, other than a sheriff, might routinely wear a holster?

So the driver stated that the cyclists have no business being on the road but he was driving with a suspended license. :roll:

The thing I find disappointing about the Beach Breeze article is that the guy apparantly implicated himself in "Assault with a deadly weapon" or some lesser version of that AND he was driving without a license, yet it appears that he was not arrested and that the case has been referred to the DA for a decision on whether to press charges.

Seems a little lenient to me, but I'm very uninformed about law enforcement procedure.

I think they would probably have had to witness him driving or showing the gun to arrest him. As it stands, it's "he said/did this" so the complainant would have to swear out a warrant if a judge finds there is cause. Don't quote me, but that's how it was when I worked in the arena of law enforcement.

I think they would probably have had to witness him driving or showing the gun to arrest him. As it stands, it's "he said/did this" so the complainant would have to swear out a warrant if a judge finds there is cause. Don't quote me, but that's how it was when I worked in the arena of law enforcement.

It's like the drunk driver I followed back in July when I was down there. I saw him hit a car in the loop at Seaside. I wasn't in a hurry so I followed. I called 911, and they put me through to the Sheriff's office who kept tabs on where I was. The guy parked his car at the Tom Thumb in Seagrove and started walking. The Deputy finally got there and found him just down the road. They could get him for public drunkedness and leaving the scene of an accident but could not give him a DUI because, even though I had followed him, they could not put him in the car while driving...

Cyclists in the county have long complained about the failure of motorists to share the road, and ignorance of the law is rampant. After posting his comment on the SoWal Website, the following response was posted, by someone using the handle FLORIDAGIRL.
?I suspect he thought you were shooting him a bird. Not a friendly move. This is an unincorporated area; people can carry weapons if they want. Secondly, the county went to a lot of trouble building a "BIKE PATH" for the tourists that like to ride bikes. Most native Walton countians don't ride bikes, too many miles just to get anywhere. Most vehicles that drive on highways have to be street legal, ie, lights and the ability to drive the speed limit. Highway 30A is a narrow road without any shoulder, and riding a bicycle in the middle of the highway is dangerous, inconsiderate, and very irritating. When I see a cyclist in the middle of the road, I think, why did the county put in a bike path? What, do they think they own the road? They have to [sic] much leisure time on there [sic] hands! And when they don't move out of the way, they have just made a statement that they don't care about anyone else on the highway, or where the vehicles have to go. They are on vacation, and to heck with the rest of the world!?
Citizens in south Walton County identified the writer of the above post as Adrienne Walline Campbell, a fact she confirmed Aug. 19 at a meeting of the South Walton Mosquito Control District. Campbell is a candidate for the board seat currently held by Jim Crawford.

Please remember these comments when voting.

Who, other than a sheriff, might routinely wear a holster?

Actually, I have worn one before. I had a keltec 9mm (and a license to carry it concealed) years ago when I resided in Montgomery. I lived in a neighborhood called Cloverdale, and it was a really cool place, but it was mixed in with very rough areas. I would routinely go to my jeep in the morning and find all of my stuff on the floors and seats etc. I never left anything valuable in my car as it was ransacked on a regular basis. I didnt even leave it locked because I wanted to keep my windows. I only had to pull my gun out one time. I was at a gas station and four men approached me and told me to get out of my car and to give up my wallet. Listen, I don't condone violence, but I will not allow someone to violate my safety. Period. I don't think that it is wrong to carry a gun for safety as long crime is such a problem in cities. This one time I had to pull my gun, kept me from being robbed. There was no need for me to fire it as they backed away. I don't even own a gun now that I live here.

p.s. By the way, I am a Democrat and most of my friends disagreed with me having a gun, but Ill tell you this, until problems in urban areas are under control, I have a right to protect myself. I would not have a problem with the govt making guns illegal as long as they would follow up and get them off o the streets as well.

Getting guns off the streets won't happen........as the saying goes...."when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns."

There are, and I am willing to bet, most gun owners are responsible with what they do with their guns. It's the gun flashing idiots and criminals that give guns a bad name.

Back in the day, being a single mother, I learned about guns, practiced, took the NRA course (with my 12 yo son) and have the utmost respect for them and I have seen first hand what guns can do. However, if some sick mofo wants to get into my home or auto, uninvited.....say bye bye.

Please remember these comments when voting.

Marion Barry was re-elected after being photographed with a crack pipe in hand, so anything could happen

Marion Barry was re-elected after being photographed with a crack pipe in hand, so anything could happen

I'd like to think the voting populace here is smarter than that of DC. ;-)

I'd like to think the voting populace here is smarter than that of DC. ;-)

Does NorWal get to vote for the mosquito race? If so, don't count her out

Does NorWal get to vote for the mosquito race? If so, don't count her out

Not sure, your there with an expert. ;-) I think it's like other races were it's county wide. Although ultimately I couldn't be sure.

Does NorWal get to vote for the mosquito race? If so, don't count her out

Nope, it's the South Walton Mosquito District........it's up to us.

Nope, it's the South Walton Mosquito District........it's up to us.

Vote in November
South Walton Mosquito District

Jim Crawford, District #1
Jerry Crawford, District #2

​

If you guys are not careful, you're going to have mosquitos out the ying yang after all this rain and Florida bit.., I mean Florida Girl won't spray on your street.

Anyone else noticed the new "share the road" signs? ;-)

Anyone else noticed the new "share the road" signs? ;-)

OMG...I dreamed about share the road signs last night!!!

Swmc

If you guys are not careful, you're going to have mosquitos out the ying yang after all this rain and Florida bit.., I mean Florida Girl won't spray on your street.

Due to the predicted tropical storms, this weekend the tacticians of the South Walton Mosquito Control removed all 16-test stations where we housed Sentinel birds to monitor West Nile and other related diseases from mosquitoes. In addition to having birds at these locations we have traps which are designed to capture mosquitoes to evaluate the count of population of mosquitoes in a given area. All of the spray trucks were set up to run Friday and will be out today.

With the aggressive monitoring that the South Walton Mosquito Control performs daily, we believe that we will only have minor problems, which will be taking care of immediately. If you are experiencing a large amount of mosquitoes in your yard, please contact our office and we will have a technician come and do a survey of your property. We gladly perform this service. 850 267 2112

Also, a reminder that if you are having any problems with yellow flies, we will be more than happy to provide you with a black ball to attract the yellow flies rather than have them bite you. This is just another service, we provide, the black ball is a noninvasive non-chemical means to control yellow flies.

John J. Magee
Commissioner

Isn't Washington DC, murder capital of the US, known for having a ban on handguns? That is right, no handguns allowed by law.

Anywho, we already have laws against assault with a deadly weapon (a vehicle can also be considered a deadly weapon) and there is already a law against driving without a valid license. This mofo broke both laws, reportedly, yet is probably still driving around illegally, in his orange truck with his gun.

John Magee, don't get me started. I experience large amounts of mosquitos, but I may pull a bicycle on any orange trucks trying to come down my driveway.

OMG...I dreamed about share the road signs last night!!!

Here are the Chinese Share the Road signs: