The former chief of
police at the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport was arrested
Wednesday on charges related to selling guns that had been seized as evidence.
The Bay County
Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced the
arrest of Tony Walker on felony charges of grand theft, dealing in stolen
property and tampering with evidence.
Walker was the first
police chief at the airport and resigned his position last Thursday.
According to the
sheriff's office, the investigation was initiated approximately three weeks ago
when it was discovered that Walker sold approximately 23 weapons to a local
business.
A query of the serial
numbers of the weapons sold by Walker revealed that approximately 20 of the firearms
had previously been submitted as evidence at the Bay County Sheriff’s Office,
and had been scheduled for destruction.
However, in February
2006, Walker stole the weapons prior to the destruction, and falsified
documentation indicating that they had been destroyed, the sheriff's department
said in a statement.
At the time of the
theft, Walker was assigned to the Property and Evidence section at the Bay
County Sheriff’s Office.
Walker was booked
into the Bay County Jail.
Meanwhile, the
investigation is continuing with additional charges possible. No other persons
have been identified as being involved in the theft, the sheriff's department
said.