CRESTVIEW — A Baker man accused of a string of hit-and-runs is charged with five counts of second-degree aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, according to an Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office spokesperson.
Henry Clay Johnson, 30, of Baker, also is charged with second-degree abuse of an elderly or disabled adult without great harm and second-degree fleeing with disregard of safety to people or property.
The OCSO on Monday received a complaint around 11 a.m. about a green Chevrolet truck traveling north on State Road 85 that was involved in at least two hit-and-run incidents and approaching Crestview.
An OCSO deputy responding to the complaint reported seeing a vehicle matching the Chevy's description as it struck the rear end of a Honda Civic just north of the S.R. 85-PJ Adams Parkway intersection, "causing the Honda to fishtail and travel into the median," an arrest report states.
The Chevy then closely followed a Dodge Ram truck, whose driver swerved into the median; the Chevy swerved too and struck the Dodge truck's rear end, according to the arrest report.
Johnson, along with his passenger, a 76-year-old woman, eventually crossed the S.R. 85-Rasberry Road intersection, speeding approximately 65 mph in the 45 mph zone, according to the arrest report. It U-turned south in front of Dunkin' Donuts and turned into the Captain D's parking lot, where it stopped.
Of the victims, Johnson allegedly said, "I want them out of my town," referring to "the evil people … the ones I rammed," an OCSO arrest report states.
The OCSO talked with these victims:
●A 60-year-old Crestview resident, who was driving her red Cadillac DTS northbound on State Road 85 when Johnson allegedly accelerated and hit the rear of her car. When she pulled over to the side of the road she says Johnson stopped, walked back to her car, and told her, “I don’t like your kind and get out of town.”
●A 42-year-old Crestview resident, who says he noticed Johnson’s fast-moving truck coming up behind him while he traveled north in his black Mitsubishi Lancer. Johnson followed and tailgated him as the victim changed lanes to try to get away.
He says Johnson continued to speed up and strike his car, causing him to lose traction and fishtail before he regained control and turned off the highway.
●A 26-year-old Crestview man driving a black Honda Civic, who allegedly was rammed twice from behind, and nearly lost control of his vehicle just north of the Shoal River Bridge.
●A 52-year-old Milton resident. An OCSO deputy responding to the calls attempted to pull over Johnson on South Ferdon Boulevard in Crestview. Johnson, however, swerved and intentionally hit a black Dodge Ram truck being driven by the Milton resident. A passenger was also in that vehicle, according to the arrest report.
An OCSO spokesperson would not comment on social media chatter suggesting factors that could have contributed to the incidents.
The Crestview Police Department was also involved in the investigation and transported Johnson to the Okaloosa County Jail.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Baker man charged with deliberately hitting multiple vehicles on SR 85