A 36-year-old Ormond Beach man was arrested Thursday night after pulling a knife on Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies during a welfare check at a residence, cutting one of the officers on the hand before being subdued with a Taser.
How the Incident Unfolded
At approximately 8:58 p.m. on February 27, deputies responded to an Ormond Beach residence after receiving a report that a woman and her elderly mother had been locked out of their home by Andrew Mark Williams, who was inside and reportedly intoxicated. The homeowner, 90 years old, was described as distraught about her 91-year-old husband, who also remained inside the home and suffers from dementia.
Deputies entered the home to check on the elderly man’s welfare and to restore access to the residence. Inside, they found Williams lying on the kitchen floor. He stood up and immediately became argumentative and increasingly aggressive toward the officers.
As Williams backed away from deputies toward the kitchen counter, he reached into a knife block and grabbed a paring knife, which he concealed in his hand. When deputies moved to secure him, a struggle broke out. During that struggle, Williams cut one of the deputies on the palm of his left hand with the knife.
Deputies gave Williams multiple commands to drop the knife and warned him that a Taser would be used if he did not comply. When Williams refused, a Taser was deployed and he fell to the ground, dropping the knife. However, he continued to resist as deputies attempted to handcuff him. A second Taser deployment was required before Williams stopped resisting and deputies were able to place him in custody.
Sheriff’s Statement
Sheriff Rick Staly issued a statement praising the deputies’ response. “Our deputies displayed extreme restraint in dealing with this violent and armed drunk,” Staly said. “Our deputies exercised sound, professional judgment by deploying a TASER to stop the threat and bring this incident to a conclusion, but the reality is this could have ended much differently.”
Staly continued: “This guy was a slow learner but after two zaps with a Taser, he finally came to his senses and quit resisting. I commend our deputies for using less-lethal weapons when legally they could have used deadly force. This is exactly why we train extensively in de-escalation tactics. If you threaten deputies with a weapon, you will lose and end up at the Green Roof Inn. Fortunately, our deputy was not seriously injured and was able to go home to his family last night.”
Injuries and Medical Treatment
The injured deputy was treated at the scene by emergency medical services for the cut to his left hand. Williams refused medical treatment at the scene but was transported to AdventHealth Palm Coast South for medical clearance before being taken to jail. The sheriff’s office said the deputy’s injury was not serious and that he was able to return home to his family.
Charges and Booking
Once Williams was medically cleared, deputies transported him to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility in Bunnell, where he is being held without bond. He faces charges of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, three counts of obstruction with violence, and elder abuse.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office serves the unincorporated areas of Flagler County, Florida. More information about the agency can be found at www.flaglersheriff.com.
This article is based on an official press release issued by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office regarding an arrest made on February 27, 2025. The charges listed are accusations. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
