Palm Beach, FL - A Flagler County man faces battery charges after an altercation with a Walmart employee on May 3rd.
According to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office (FCSO), 37-year-old Channing Cooks of Palm Coast became upset during a return attempt at the Cypress Point Parkway Walmart.
The dispute escalated when Cooks allegedly spat in the employee's face.
Store surveillance footage corroborated the employee's statement.
FCSO deputies arrived on the scene and later located Cooks' vehicle at a nearby CVS.
Cooks initially claimed he unintentionally sneezed on the employee while discussing baby formula.
Body camera footage, however, captured Cooks repeatedly insisting he "sneezed" while being arrested.
He also directed profanity and racial slurs towards the arresting deputy during transport but later apologized for his behavior.
Cooks was booked on battery charges and released on a $2,500 bond.
A background check revealed prior arrests for domestic battery (2018) and violation of probation (2019).
Additionally, FCSO records show a 2006 Putnam County conviction for robbery with a deadly weapon, resulting in a 10-year prison sentence