WALTON COUNTY, Fla. – Walton County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested two armed suspects in separate incidents less than 12 hours apart, including a DeFuniak Springs man accused of firing a shotgun at deputies and a Freeport man accused of threatening utility workers and a deputy with a firearm.
Man Charged After Allegedly Shooting at Deputies
The first incident occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 10, when deputies responded to North Norwood Road in DeFuniak Springs after receiving reports that Bryan Lloyd Ronk, 46, was threatening to harm himself.
According to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, witnesses told deputies Ronk was armed with a short-barreled shotgun and had made multiple suicidal statements.
After deputies arrived, Ronk allegedly slammed the front door shut. Deputies attempted to communicate with him using their patrol vehicle’s public address system.
During those attempts, authorities said Ronk fired a 20-gauge shotgun through the front door. The blast shattered the glass, passed directly over a deputy’s head, struck a nearby tree, and caused debris to fall onto deputies standing outside the residence.
Ronk later appeared in the doorway holding a kitchen knife before retreating back inside.
Deputies moved to another side of the home, where Ronk was seen through a window. A Taser was deployed twice as he attempted to run toward a bedroom, where deputies later recovered the shotgun on a bed.
Investigators said Ronk resisted arrest but was taken into custody shortly after 11 p.m.
Authorities determined the shotgun had a barrel measuring approximately 11¾ inches, making it an illegal short-barreled shotgun. Deputies also learned Ronk is a convicted felon who admitted he knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Ronk was booked into the Walton County Jail and charged with:
- Two counts of Attempted Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer
- Possession of a Short-Barreled Shotgun
- Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
- Obstruction Without Violence
Second Arrest Made Tuesday Morning
The second incident occurred on the morning of Aug. 11 in Freeport.
According to the sheriff’s office, Raymond McGlamry, 46, drove to Pine Street after leaving work and confronted utility workers who were trimming trees within a right-of-way while a deputy was working an off-duty security detail.
Investigators said McGlamry exited his vehicle carrying a firearm and threatened both the power company workers and the deputy.
He was arrested and booked into the Walton County Jail on the following charges:
- Two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon
- One count of Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer with a Deadly Weapon
- One count of Resisting Arrest Without Violence
Sheriff Praises Deputies’ Response
Sheriff Michael Adkinson commended deputies for safely resolving both incidents without the use of deadly force.
“In the last 12 hours, our deputies faced two dangerous and unpredictable situations involving armed individuals,” Adkinson said. “In both cases, they showed exceptional restraint by relying on their training, communication, and decision-making to bring the suspects into custody without the use of lethal force, underscoring our commitment to protecting the public while preserving life whenever possible.”