Supporter of man charged with shooting Daytona Beach officer arrested on weapon charge, police say

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Police said a man who is a sympathizer of Othal Wallace, the man accused of shooting a Daytona Beach police officer, was arrested on a weapon charge.

Officers said Kentay Thomas was arrested while armed with guns, body armor and ammo and was looking to cause trouble.

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Police said Thomas is a danger to the community who was looking to get into a confrontation with police.

But Thomas tried to push back against that narrative in court on Friday.

Thomas stood before a judge Friday afternoon, cuffed and in an orange jumpsuit.

The prosecutor painted Thomas as a Wallace supporter and member of a Black militia group who flew into Daytona Beach from Arizona on July 4 with an AR-15, handgun, hundreds of rounds of ammo and body armor that could withstand a round from a handgun.

According to an arrest report Thomas was concealing his weapons and his concealed weapons permit was suspended.

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The prosecutor said police were tipped off about Thomas’ arrival in Daytona.

During the hearing, they played Instagram videos Thomas allegedly posted in which he brags about getting into a confrontation with police.

Thomas appeared agitated throughout the hearing, unhappy with the narrative police and the prosecutor were painting. He raised his hand multiple times, trying to speak.

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His public defender said Thomas feared for his safety and was exercising his First Amendment rights.

The judge felt Thomas posed a danger to the community and decided to not give him a bond.

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