- December 4, 2025
A 68-year-old Palm Coast man was arrested after he allegedly chased two teens in the Palm Coast Walmart with a knife.
Thomas Edward Ohl, of Palm Coast's W Section, was arrested on Sept. 13 and is facing four felony charges, two counts each of child abuse and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill. According to Ohl's arrest report, no one was injured in the incident.
The two juvenile boys were in Walmart with their 18-year-old friend Daniel Johnston at 9 p.m. in the fishing section when they encountered Ohl, the report said.
The two minors told deputies that Ohl took something the teens said as though it was meant for Ohl and shoved his cart at the boys, who left. They said Ohl then followed them, threatened to kill them and chased them with a fillet knife, the report said.
The two ran away and found and employee for help. Johnston was not with them when the man chased them.
Ohl, who has a tracheostomy, told deputies the three boys bumped into him with their elbows and made comments about the voice box he uses to speak with, the report said. Ohl did not admit to chasing or pointing the knife at the boys and the knife was later found in a Walmart shopping cart.
While the two minors' parents decided to press charges, Johnston declined to provide a written statement or press charges. He told deputies he thought Ohl took comments from the two minors out of context and went to apologize to him, the report said.
Walmart security footage shows Ohl talking to Johnston. When Johnston leaves, Ohl takes the knife from its packaging and follows Johnston to the Home Goods section. Cell phone footage from one of the minors shows Ohl "charging" at the minors with a fishing fillet knife, the report said.
Ohl was taken to the Flagler County jail. He was being held on $30,000 bond but has since posted bail.
