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Walton Deputy Fatally Shoots Armed Suspect
11/06/08 - 04:31 PM
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What began as a domestic dispute leaves one man dead and a Walton County Sheriff’s Deputy on administrative leave.  It happened Wednesday night at around 10:30 on W. Pt. Washington Rd. near Santa Rosa Beach.

“Shocked that it happened,” said Jonathan Roberts, who lives directly across the street from the Kriese family.

“It’s beautiful, it’s quiet and it’s a friendly neighborhood,” he said, “we know everybody.”

But his neighborhood is where Walton County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a domestic dispute, allegedly finding retired military man Steve Kriese driving into his yard with a gun pointed to his chin.

“He was a good neighbor and they’re a good family and it’s just a shame it happened,” said Roberts.

As Kriese entered the house, his wife and 13-year-old daughter left through the back door and were escorted away.  That’s when Kriese returned outside, pointing an AK-47 toward the deputies.  One deputy fatally shot the suspect.

“I heard the gunshot,” said 85-year-old neighbor Dorothy Miller, “But I didn’t have any idea that that was there.” 

Miller has lived in the neighborhood for the past 20 years.  She says she was shocked to hear of Kriese’s death.

“Nothing like that’s every happened before since I’ve lived here. It’s always been a real quiet neighborhood,” she said.

Family members say Kriese had been injured for the past couple of years and was on several painkillers.  They say Kriese’s wife and daughter are safe in a hotel while the case is under investigation.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting an investigation into the deputy who shot the suspect at the request of the Sheriff’s Office.  It is part of regular procedure.

The deputy has been placed on administrative leave and his name has not yet been released.