High school student arrested for battery on a law enforcement officer

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office yesterday arrested Justin Ray Loving, 19, of Miramar Beach, for battery on a law enforcement officer.

School Resource Deputy William McCormick yesterday observed Loving, a senior, enter the South Walton High School gymnasium during a basketball game and yell an obscenity.  Loving left the gym and re-entered without paying admission to observe the sporting event. 

Deputy McCormick and a school administrator confronted Loving and asked him to leave the gym. Loving became irate and shouted obscenities. During the verbal exchange, SRD McCormick smelled alcohol and determined that Loving was possibly intoxicated. 

Loving refused SRD McCormick’s offer to transport him home and began walking toward the school parking lot as Deputy Eric Traugott and Deputy Chad Bernacki arrived to the scene. 

Loving informed the deputies that he intended to re-enter the gym.  He then spit on Deputy Traugott.  Loving was immediately placed into custody.

While inside a patrol vehicle, Loving repeatedly kicked the door and window.  Loving was placed into leg shackles to prevent injuring himself and others.

Loving was charged with one count of battery on a law enforcement officer, a third-degree felony; one count of resisting an officer without violence, a first-degree misdemeanor; and one count of trespassing by refusing to leave school grounds, a first-degree misdemeanor. 

He was booked into the Walton County Jail.