FORT WALTON BEACH — A 34-year-old man serving as a technical sergeant with the Air Force has been charged with breaking into a home and raping a woman early Sunday morning.
Tech Sgt. Adam Blake Meredith is active duty with the 96th Test Wing’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight at Eglin Air Force Base.
According to Fort Walton Beach police, Meredith broke into the woman’s home about 3:30 a.m. Sunday. He found the woman sleeping in the master bedroom and woke her up.
The woman did not know Meredith, according to his arrest report.
Meredith placed a knife to the woman’s neck and told her to take off her clothes. He then sexually battered her three times.
Before leaving the home, Meredith told the woman not to turn the lights on or he would come back. He left in a pickup truck, then returned and tried to enter the home again, but the woman had locked the door.
She called 911 to report the rape and described Meredith’s vehicle to the dispatcher.
The woman told officers she did not see Meredith’s face during the rape, but he left a wallet containing his Florida driver license and military identification next to her bed, according to the report.
A police officer spotted Meredith’s truck near Beal Parkway and Howell Drive about 4:30 a.m. and pulled it over. The officer found Meredith in possession of a folding knife, the report states.
Meredith was arrested and charged with three counts of sexual battery with a weapon and one count of armed burglary.
He was being held in the Okaloosa County Jail on $350,000 bond Monday.
Andy Bourland, director of public affairs for Eglin Air Force Base, said late Monday that he did not yet know what Meredith’s duty status with the Air Force would be following the arrest.
He said he would be able to provide more information Tuesday, including how long Meredith has been stationed at Eglin.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Lauren Sage Reinlie at 850-315-4443 or lreinlie@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @LaurenRnwfdn.