Deputy Sheriff William D. Pledger, who served with the Bay County Sheriff's Office in Florida, was tragically killed on September 9, 1935. He was on duty, checking on roadhouses and night spots in the Bayou Gorge area near Panama City. At approximately 1:00 am, Deputy Pledger, a male officer whose age and ethnicity are not specified in the available records, became involved in an altercation with two brothers at the Night Owl Club, a local roadhouse.
During this confrontation, one of the brothers produced a handgun and shot both his brother and Deputy Pledger, resulting in their deaths.
The suspect, a 28-year-old male, was arrested and initially convicted of first-degree murder, receiving a death sentence. However, the Florida Supreme Court later granted a new trial. In the subsequent trial held on April 4, 1937, the suspect was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. He ultimately died in prison on February 4, 1938.
Deputy Pledger had been with the Bay County Sheriff's Office for approximately nine months at the time of his death. His untimely demise highlights the dangers faced by law enforcement officers while performing their duties, and his service and sacrifice are remembered and honored by his colleagues and the community.
