An unsettling event unfolded when a U.S. Postal Service worker allegedly attempted to run over a 10-year-old boy who was trying to correct a delivery error. The incident, which occurred in Escambia County, Florida, has led to the arrest of 41-year-old William White Jr. He faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, petit theft, and criminal mischief.

The chain of events began on December 27, when White mistakenly delivered a package to the wrong residence on Kingfisher Way. The Florida Highway Patrol reports that the young boy, whose family lived at the incorrect delivery address, noticed the error. Demonstrating initiative, he placed the package on his electric scooter, intending to bring it to its rightful owner.

According to the authorities and as reported by the Pensacola News Journal, White misunderstood the child’s actions as theft when he saw him with the package. In a startling response, White allegedly drove the USPS vehicle toward the boy, colliding with and running over the scooter.

The incident culminated in White’s arrest on New Year’s Eve, highlighting a shocking example of misunderstanding escalating into potential violence. As the case unfolds, it underscores the importance of careful judgment and communication in everyday interactions.

But when White saw the child with the package, he thought the child was stealing it.

At that point, authorities said, White ‘purposely drove the USPS vehicle towards the child and ran over the scooter.’

Fortunately, the child was able to get away, ducking into a nearby yard before White ran over his scooter – but not before injuring his ankle, WEAR reports. 

White then grabbed the scooter from underneath the USPS vehicle and placed it on the truck, yelling at the kid as he drove away, authorities said. 

William White Jr., 41, is accused of trying to run over a 10-year-old boy after he delivered a package to the wrong address

Authorities with the Florida Highway Patrol said he delivered a package to the wrong address on Kingfisher Way in Escambia County (pictured) and when the child who lives there noticed the mistake, he tried to bring the package to the correct home

But one of the child’s parent’s then followed White to confront him about what he had done – at which point the suspect allegedly threw the scooter into a nearby yard.

In the end, the child had to be brought to Studer Family Children’s Hospital for his injuries.

Meanwhile, authorities investigating the incident were able to track down White when he returned to work on New Year’s Eve, and asked him a few questions before taking him into custody.

White was then booked into Escambia County Jail, but has since posted a $5,500 bond.  

‘It’s heartbreaking. This is a very quiet neighborhood,’ Alexus Brown told WEAR as she learned what had happened to her neighbor. 

‘I think he did go too far,’ she added of the USPS driver.

Florida Highway Patrol Capt. Jason King echoed that sentiment.

‘This isn’t just a simple “Oops” crash with a 10 year old in the road,’ he said. ‘This is an intentional act by a United States postal worker.’

He then went on to say that it was just a ’10 year old on a scooter’ and ‘not a normal porch pirate running up snatching packages that you just dropped off.’

White then allegedly tried to run over the child with his USPS truck (like the ones pictured) and ran over the boy’s electric scooter

In the end, King said White should have just asked the kid what he was doing. 

‘It’s amazing what a small conversation would do in a situation rather than jumping straight to force, use of force… or really escalating the situation way past where it should have been.’ 

In a statement to the News Journal, a spokesperson for USPS said it ‘takes the safety and well-being of our customers and employees seriously.

‘The Postal Inspection Service, the law enforcement arm of the Postal Service, is actively investigating the issue in partnership with local law enforcement.’

The spokesperson then went on to confirm that White has been employed by the service since 2025, but said ‘the Postal Service does not publicly comment on personnel matters.’

White is now due back in court on January 23.