An Officer with the DeFuniak Springs Police responded to the Chill Bar in reference to a suspicious male on Sunday, August 31st, 2014 at approximately 5 PM. Upon arrival, an employee of Ace Hardware approached the Officer and advised that the subject in question had been staggering into traffic on U.S. Highway 90. The subject had reportedly yelled at several employees at Ace Hardware moments before going into the Chill Bar. The clerk at the Chill Bar advised that the older white male subject had entered the store and purchased a bottle of liquor, but then left the store without getting it. The clerk requested the Officer check on the man.
The Officer was able to find the subject a short distance a way on Byers Street. The Officer observed the subject walking in the road and having trouble maintaining his balance. The Officer requested to speak with him about his actions. The subject refused and shouted profanity towards the Officer. The Officer gave him a lawful order to stop. The subject still refused, despite being advised he was under arrest.
As the Officer attempted to take the subject into custody for Disorderly Intoxication, the man pulled the Officer to the ground and began kicking and striking the Officer. The Officer deployed his Taser as the subject continued to resist arrest. After a brief struggle, the subject was arrested. He refused to give his personal information, but was later identified as Rayford Leon Young, DOB: 07/17/1956, of Jacksonville, FL. A warrants check revealed that Young was wanted as a fugitive out of the State of Washington for previous drug charges.
Young sustained injuries while resisting arrest and was transported to Healthmark Regional Medical Center. He was later transported to the Walton County Jail on local charges of Disorderly Intoxication, Resisting an Officer with Violence, and Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer. Young is also being held for Washington State authorities.