Man arrested after hitting hotel guest

PANAMA CITY BEACH -- Police have arrested a man for hitting a hotel guest in the head with a gun, causing it to discharge Friday night.

Panama City Beach Police arrested Darius Dion Simmons, 23, on charges of carrying a concealed firearm, aggravated battery and use of a firearm while committing a felony at the Edgewater Beach Resort Tower 1, 11212 Front Beach Road, about 9:45 p.m., according to police reports.

Simmons, a Georgia resident, was arrested after he went to room 110 at the Edgewater looking for family members. Guests of the room explained to Simmons he had the wrong room, but the conversation escalated into a verbal altercation. Simmons was asked to leave by the room’s occupants and did, police reported.

Less than five minutes passed before Simmons returned and a physical altercation ensued. During which, Simmons pulled a semi-automatic handgun from the waistband of his pants and struck the victim in the head, causing it to discharge at least one round, police reported.

The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment to a deep laceration to the head but was not shot in the incident. Simmons was taken to Bay County Jail to await first appearance.