What started as a Sunday afternoon traffic spat on Highway 331 South near Sherwood Road turned into a gun-on-the-roof standoff, according to Walton County deputies. A 33-year-old Bonifay man was arrested after allegedly pointing a handgun at another vehicle, then placing the weapon on top of his SUV. He is being held at the Walton County Jail on a $235,000 bond.
Motorists told dispatchers that a white Ford Explorer had been tailgating them, honking, speeding, and then slamming on its brakes to force their car to stop, according to the Tampa Free Press. Deputies with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the DeFuniak Springs Office of the City Marshal quickly intercepted the SUV after the 911 call, the outlet reports.
Once stopped, the driver, identified as 33‑year‑old Blackie Alvarez of Bonifay, stepped out of the Explorer, pulled a black handgun from his waistband, and set it on the vehicle’s roof, according to WJHG. Investigators also reported finding two sets of metal knuckles in his pockets. Alvarez refused to speak with officers at the scene, the station reports.
Charges and legal exposure
Alvarez faces two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of false imprisonment, a felony count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and citations for carrying a concealed weapon and driving without a valid license, according to the Tampa Free Press. Authorities also say he had an active Bay County warrant for unpaid child support.
Under Florida law, a convicted felon found with a firearm typically faces a second-degree felony charge, per the Florida Senate.
How deputies say the stop unfolded
Deputies and the DeFuniak Springs city marshal tracked the Explorer to the area near Sherwood Road and stopped it shortly after the 911 call, according to WJHG. Alvarez was detained at the scene and later booked into the Walton County Jail, where he remains in custody.
Local context
Walton County has seen other armed road-rage confrontations in recent years. A 2022 incident near US‑331 and Highway 90 prompted a Walton County Sheriff’s Office release that highlighted how quickly traffic disputes can spiral. That county statement and subsequent local coverage urged drivers to avoid engaging with aggressive motorists and to instead report threats or any video evidence directly to law enforcement, according to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation into Sunday’s encounter is ongoing, and deputies have asked anyone with video or additional information to contact the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. Alvarez remains in the Walton County Jail while prosecutors prepare formal filings.
