Father, 31, ‘used his baby as a SHIELD while disobeying commands from Florida deputies during a traffic stop before choking medical staff at a hospital’

  • Zachary Taylor McKinney, 31, was charged with battery on law enforcement officer as well as battery on a health care professional 
  • The Defuniak Springs resident was also charged with false imprisonment of a child under the age of 13, child abuse and resisting arrest 
  • Deputies stopped McKinney on Interstate 10 near the 58mile marker at approximately 10.15pm
  • McKinney is said to have immediately become combative with responding deputies, disobeying commands 
  • The father is said to have refused to release the baby, using the young victim as a shield
  • He attacked medical staff at a local hospital after deputies were able to separate him and the baby 

By Matthew Wright For Dailymail.com

Published: 14:16 GMT, 4 March 2020 | Updated: 14:16 GMT, 4 March 2020

Zachary Taylor McKinney, 31, was charged with battery on law enforcement officer as well as battery on a health care professional, false imprisonment of a child under the age of 13, child abuse and resisting arrest

Zachary Taylor McKinney, 31, was charged with battery on law enforcement officer as well as battery on a health care professional, false imprisonment of a child under the age of 13, child abuse and resisting arrest

A Florida man used his infant as a shield against local authorities while refusing to obey commands following a Monday night traffic stop on Interstate 10.

Zachary Taylor McKinney, 31, was charged with battery on law enforcement officer as well as battery on a health care professional, according to a release from the Okalossa County Sheriff’s Office. 

The Defuniak Springs resident was also charged with false imprisonment of a child under the age of 13, child abuse and resisting arrest. 

Deputies stopped McKinney on Interstate 10 near the 58mile marker at approximately 10.15pm out of concerns stemming from a child custody/Baker Act issue. 

McKinney is said to have immediately become combative with responding deputies, disobeying commands. He also appeared to be under the influence of narcotics, the release states. 

The father is said to have refused to release the baby, using the young victim as a shield.

Deputies stopped McKinney on Interstate 10 near the 58mile marker at approximately 10.15pm out of concerns stemming from a child custody/Baker Act issue

Deputies stopped McKinney on Interstate 10 near the 58mile marker at approximately 10.15pm out of concerns stemming from a child custody/Baker Act issue

Deputies stopped McKinney on Interstate 10 near the 58mile marker at approximately 10.15pm out of concerns stemming from a child custody/Baker Act issue

The department’s Special Tactics Unit were able to retrieve the baby and take McKinney into custody. 

He was taken to the North Okalossa Medical Center in Crestview for further evaluation. 

While being transferred from the hospital to the Okaloosa County Jail, McKinney is said to have kicked, scratched and attempted to bite deputies. 

The father is said to have refused to release the baby, using the young victim as a shield. Eventually he was detained and the infant was medically evacuated. The infant was not injured

The father is said to have refused to release the baby, using the young victim as a shield. Eventually he was detained and the infant was medically evacuated. The infant was not injured

The father is said to have refused to release the baby, using the young victim as a shield. Eventually he was detained and the infant was medically evacuated. The infant was not injured

McKinney was taken back to the medical center but attacked a staff member during a procedure he was undergoing. 

The father choked the employee before sticking his finger into the man’s mouth, causing injury to the victim’s face, neck, mouth and abdomen.  

The baby was medically evacuated from the scene but was not injured during the incident. 

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