Flagler County man wearing girl's underwear arrested for child abuse, deputies say

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — A Flagler County man has been arrested and charged with child abuse after he was accused of smacking a teenager on her behind, deputies said.

William Walsh, 52, of Bunnell is accused of approaching a 14-year-old girl on a sidewalk on Jan. 31 while he was on his bicycle near the intersection of State Highway 100 and McCormick Drive in Flagler County, deputies said.

As Walsh approached the teenager, he said, “Hey, let me get some of that” and slapped the teen on the behind, deputies said. The teenager told her great-grandmother, but because Walsh was never found, the case was closed, deputies said. Investigator said they did step up patrols in the area.

"I've been a sworn law enforcement officer for 40 years. This is a text book example of how child pedophiles start," said Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly.

The parent of an 8-year-old told deputies that, Walsh approached their daughter on Friday while he was on his bicycle, showed her a drawing of a dog that he said was lost and said he needed help, deputies said.

"This pervert then showed a picture of a dog to a child," Staly said.

Many parents in the neighborhood told deputies that a man who has been riding a blue bicycle in the area tries to speak to kids at the bus stop. Several children who got off the bus told deputies a similar story, deputies said. He has been seen riding his bike through the Madison Green apartment complex.

A deputy spotted Walsh in the area, and when Walsh saw the deputy, he turned around. When he was questioned by deputies, Walsh said he became scared when he saw them, deputies said.

Walsh had two plastic bags hanging from his bicycle's handlebars and three pairs of children’s underwear, deputies said. He told deputies that he bought them for a girl, but could not provide a name, deputies said.

Walsh denied any involvement in speaking to any children at the bus stop. During a search of Walsh, deputies said he was wearing girl’s underwear.

The 14-year-old girl identified him in a photo lineup as the one who slapped her behind, deputies said.

"Hopefully we caught him at an early stage and that the courts will lock his ass up," Staly said.

Staly told parents in the community to speak to their children and come forward if they think he didn't anything to them.

Cox Media Group