Police Blotter: Man accused of chasing woman, child around with cane

A Memphis man visiting the area is accused of chasing an acquaintance and her son around a hotel room with his cane.

Okaloosa County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the Destin Beach Club on April 27 around 9:15 p.m. for a battery complaint, according to the arrest report. Deputies first spoke with a woman who reportedly had injuries to her left arm and rib cage.

The woman said that 24-year-old Andrew Philip Smith had become agitated and started chasing her and her child around the room with his cane. She said she and the child had gone into the bathroom for safety after she was struck with the cane.

Smith kicked in the bathroom door, which hit the child in the head, according to the report. The child had an inch long laceration on the forehead that required five stitches at the emergency room.

Deputies found a glass smoking pipe and eight grams of marijuana in Smith’s fanny pack.

He is charged with battery, aggravated child abuse, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

His next scheduled court date is June 2.