Man arrested in knife incident

A 47-year-old Big Pine Key homeless man was arrested Sunday for holding a knife to the neck of a Big Pine Key, Winn-Dixie® employee.

William Joseph Shook was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

There were no reported serious injuries in the 11:50 a.m. incident at the store.

Deputies Jon Riggs and John Allen responded. Deputy Riggs was en route when he was informed the suspect was walking toward the CVS® pharmacy nearby. Deputy Allen pulled into the pharmacy parking lot and saw a man matching the description of the suspect whom he identified as Shook from previous encounters. Shook appeared to be intoxicated. Deputy Riggs searched Shook and did not find a knife. Deputy Allen stayed with Shook while Deputy Riggs went to the Winn-Dixie® to speak to the 57-year-old victim.

The victim stated he was speaking to another store employee outside near the entry doors when the suspect stood up from where he had been sitting the ground and came up behind him with a knife. He then put the knife to the victim’s throat. The victim stated he didn’t know why the suspect did this, but the store security camera should have captured the incident.

Deputy Riggs viewed the security camera footage and it showed the incident as the victim described.

Shook was taken to jail.

Deputy Riggs then returned to Big Pine Key with a U.S. Border Patrol Agent and K9 Unit to search for the knife, but they were unsuccessful in locating the knife.