CALLAWAY, FL – A man who attacked two women with a samurai sword in Callaway, Florida was safely taken into custody by Bay County Sheriff’s Office deputies without incident. Police, at gunpoint convinced the man to drop the sword and to surrender to responding deputies.
The Bay County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of Zachary Ables, age 22, last night after two female family members of Ables reported he cut them both with a large knife. You can watch the video here.
Deputies responded to a home on Beulah Avenue in Callaway in reference to the incident and found the two women with serious lacerations to their face, head, and bodies. The two women stated that Zachery Ables had cut them up and may still be at their residence nearby on Beulah Avenue. The two women were taken to a local hospital for medical help and deputies went to the home. Although serious, their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
At the residence blood, in droplets and in large areas of concentration, was observed from the front to the back door within the home. Deputies cleared the residence and determined Ables was not home. The residence was secured and BCSO Crime Scene was called to process the scene.
A description of Zachery Ables was provided to all local law enforcement agencies. Within a few minutes, a BCSO deputy spotted Ables on Highway 22, about 200 yards west of N. Star Avenue. Two deputies stopped Ables in the roadway, with another deputy arriving soon after. Ables was holding a full-sized Katana, or Samurai, sword.
The deputies were able to engage Ables in conversation and get him to put down the sword. Once Ables put down the sword, deputies were successful in getting him to move away from the sword and lay down on his stomach. He was placed in handcuffs. In addition to the sword, a 5 inch paring knife was found during a search of Ables. Deputies found that Ables had sustained some cuts and EMS was called. EMS determined the cuts were minor and did not require medical treatment.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the manner in which our deputies handled a situation that was potentially dangerous for them and the suspect,” Sheriff Tommy Ford said. “A safe resolution is always our goal.”
Zachery Ables was arrested and charged with Aggravated Battery.