Man Pulled From Walmart Ceiling Later Beat Up Nurse: Sheriff

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — A man who climbed into the crawl space in the ceiling of the Walmart on 8745 State Road 54 Nov. 19 was formally charged Sunday in connection with the bizarre incident.

William L. Harrell Jr., 47, of Gibsonton was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, business burglary, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and battery on a nurse following the incident in which he climbed into the ceiling of the Walmart, knocking fluorescent ceiling lights to the floor below, causing the store's evacuation.

Deputies said Harrell entered the store Nov. 19, approached the service desk and asked an employee for a phone to call 911 because he believed his wife was trying to kill him. After using the phone, Harrell walked behind the service desk and refused to leave. He then entered a communications closet behind the service desk, threw a wooden stool against a wall and slammed the closet door shut. Deputies said he ransacked the closet, stacked up broken shelving and stood on it to crawl into the ceiling.

Once in the ceiling, he punched a hole in the air-conditioning unit, pulled out wires, broke multiple fluorescent lights and kicked two lights from their fixtures, causing them to fall to the store floor.

He armed himself with a broken fluorescent light bulb and refused orders by deputies to come out. At one point, he approached a sheriff's corporal, brandishing the broken light bulb with a stabbing motion. He dropped the light bulb when deputies threatened to use deadly force.

Deputies had to use a bean bag gun, taser and pepper spray to subdue him. Even then, deputies said he resisted arrest and refused to comply with commands.

When deputies took Harrell to Regional Medical Center at Bayonet Point for medical clearance, he punched a nurse in the face, knocking him to the ground, and then jumped on top of nurse and began beating him. He was held for a mental health assessment under the Baker Act.

Walmart officials said Harrell caused an estimated $10,000 in damage.

Harrell is being held at the Land O' Lakes Detention Center where bond is set at $15,000.