‘I will kill you’: Hampton councilman threatens neighbor with gun, Bradford County deputies say

HAMPTON, Fla. (WCJB) - Bradford County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a councilman in Hampton accused of threatening his neighbor with a gun.

According to the arrest report, Douglas Edward Williamson, 67, was arrested last Thursday on the charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill.

The day before, deputies responded to a property on Loop Road on reports of an assault and spoke to the victim, Williamson’s neighbor.

He told deputies he saw Williamson walking on his property, towards his pressure washer. Williamson accused his neighbor of stealing the pressure washer and other items from his property.

Williamson then reportedly pulled his pistol out of its holster and pointed the gun at his neighbor.

“I will kill you if I catch you there,” Williamson threatened. “Come back to my trailer, and I will kill you.”

Deputies spoke with Williamson, who told them that he did go onto his neighbor’s property and brandish his pistol; however, he denied pointing it at the victim.

Williamson also told deputies he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

After being booked into the Bradford County Jail on Thursday, he was released from custody the same day after posting bond.

Since then, Williamson appears to have made multiple social media posts referencing his arrest that insult his neighbor or criticize the sheriff’s office.

“If your office was [patrolling] Hampton Florida. I would not have gotten myself in this situation,” Williamson posted on Facebook after listing the money the City of Hampton has paid to the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office. He also expressed concern about his treatment in jail.

“You should treat your neighbors as humans as well,” Sheriff Gordon Smith commented on the Facebook post. “The jail was built to confine those suspected of committing crimes and to meet the minimum requirements of housing human beings per the National Correctional Standards. We have met or exceeded all standards since I have been the Sheriff. Sorry we don’t meet the America Hotel Association standards. This being said, please, just don’t break the law!”

Undersherriff Brad Smith says that the victim is the one who called the police first after feeling threatened. “Resident there was saying that his neighbor came over to his house and had a firearm in his possession, pulled the firearm out and threatened him.”

TV20 had the chance to speak with Williamson off camera, he claims he was just trying to protect his property.

Williamson is still under investigation, and the Governor has not yet reached a decision about his council position.

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