A United States Postal Service (USPS) employee has been charged with serious offences after he allegedly tried to run over a ten-year-old boy with his delivery van, having wrongly accused the child of stealing a parcel.
The Incident: A Dangerous Mistake
The alarming event unfolded in Escambia County, Florida, on December 27. According to local reports, the postal worker, William White Jr., had delivered a package to an incorrect address. The young boy, who lives at that address, noticed the error. In a helpful act, he picked up the parcel, placed it on his electric scooter, and began to take it to the correct destination.
However, authorities state that White believed the youngster was stealing the package. Police allege that White then "purposely drove the USPS vehicle towards the child and ran over the scooter." Miraculously, the boy managed to leap out of the way at the last moment, fleeing into a nearby garden. He sustained an injury to his ankle during the escape.
Officials report that White then retrieved the damaged scooter from under the van, placed it inside his vehicle, and shouted at the child before driving away.
Confrontation and Arrest
The situation escalated further when one of the boy's parents followed White to confront him about his actions. It is alleged that at this point, the suspect threw the child's scooter into a garden. The injured boy was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment on his ankle.
After the family reported the incident, law enforcement officers tracked down and arrested William White Jr. on New Year's Eve. He was booked into the Escambia County Jail on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, petit theft, and criminal mischief. He has since been released after posting a $5,500 bond and is scheduled to appear back in court on January 23.
Community Shock and Official Responses
The incident has disturbed the local community. A neighbour, Alexus Brown, told reporters, "It's heartbreaking. This is a very quiet neighbourhood." Florida Highway Patrol Captain Jason King emphasised the gravity of the event, stating, "This isn't just a simple 'Oops' crash with a 10 year old in the road. This is an intentional act by a United States postal worker."
Captain King added that the situation could have been entirely avoided, saying, "It's amazing what a small conversation would do in a situation rather than jumping straight to force... or really escalating the situation way past where it should have been."
In a statement, a USPS spokesperson confirmed that the Postal Inspection Service is actively investigating the matter alongside local police. The statement read, "The Postal Service takes the safety and well-being of our customers and employees seriously." The spokesperson also confirmed White had been employed by USPS since 2025 but declined further comment on personnel matters.
