A 77-year-old Okeechobee man landed in jail Sunday after deputies say he pulled a revolver and threatened a woman while they were driving on U.S. 1 in the Florida Keys. According to officials, the woman managed to pull over, wrestle the gun away, and toss it into nearby bushes before deputies got to the scene. Authorities identified the suspect as Charles Durand Wilkinson and booked him on an aggravated assault charge. No serious injuries were reported.
What deputies say
As reported by CBS News Miami, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office says the confrontation unfolded around 2:50 p.m. on March 28 near Mile Marker 38 on U.S. 1. Deputies allege Wilkinson pulled out a revolver and told the victim, "I aught to shoot you," before the woman disarmed him and secured the weapon. Responding officers later recovered the revolver from the bushes where it had been thrown.
Arrest and charge
Deputies arrested Wilkinson at the scene and charged him with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to the report by CBS News Miami. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office has not released information about bond or any upcoming court dates. Wilkinson is listed in the report as a resident of Okeechobee, and investigators are handling the case locally.
What the charge means
Under Florida law, aggravated assault is defined as an assault "with a deadly weapon without intent to kill" or an assault with intent to commit a felony, and is classified as a third-degree felony, according to state statutes. That level of offense can carry felony penalties if the state chooses to move forward with prosecution, with any sentence depending on the details of the case and the defendant's prior record. See Florida Statutes 784.021 for the full statute text.
Where it happened
The incident took place on the Overseas Highway, commonly known as U.S. 1, near Mile Marker 38, a typical way locals and visitors pinpoint locations in the Keys. The numbered markers run from MM 0 in Key West up toward the mainland and double as a kind of shorthand for directions and addresses along U.S. 1. For more background on the mile marker system, see Visit Florida Keys.
Wilkinson remains in custody while the Monroe County Sheriff's Office continues its investigation and prepares the case for the State Attorney. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff's office.
