DeFuniak Springs Police responded to a residence off of Nowling Drive on Thursday just after noon in reference to locating a sexual battery suspect. Officers located the suspect, 47 year old Christopher J. Mars at his home. As Officers were attempting to take Mars into custody, he spit on them and stated that if they touched him, he was going to blow the house up. Mars had what appeared to be a television remote in his hand when he made the threat. He continued to resist and had to be subdued with a Taser.
Due to the threats made by Mars, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad and Walton County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist. As of this release, the Bomb Squad is still clearing the residence. Mars was transported to Healthmark Regional Medical Center for evaluation. Upon clearance, he will be booked into the Walton County Jail on the original warrant charge of Sexual Battery on an Under-aged Mentally Handicapped Person. In addition, Mars is being charged with two counts of battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest without violence, and threatening to set off a destructive device. The Judge who signed the original warrant, set a bond at $1,000,000.