GBUMC fired Ryan Walsh upon learning of the allegation involving a minor

On Feb. 6, the Gulf Breeze Police Department received a complaint of a lewd/lascivious offense which involved Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church youth director, Ryan Scott Walsh, 27, and a girl, age 13.

On Feb. 10, an arrest warrant was secured for Walsh’s arrest for the offenses of:

• Transmitting obscene material to a minor;

• Sexual offense-lewd and lascivious involving minor over 12 under 18;

• Use of computer to solicit/seduce child.

Ryan Scott Walsh was taken into custody without incident on Feb. 10.

The redacted arrest report states that the offenses occurred between Jan. 1 and Feb. 6. Once senior pastor Dan Morris and executive pastor Shawn York became aware, on Feb. 6, of the allegations of inappropriate touching, messaging and exchanging photographs between the GBUMC youth director and the teen, they confronted Walsh and put him on administrative leave and reported the incidents to the Gulf Breeze Police Department.

When Gulf Breeze police visited Walsh at his parents’ home in Navarre, he surrendered his iPhone and Apple watch. He provided the pass code to the items on Feb. 7, which allowed the law enforcement officers to review the content on the phone.

Morris issued this statement: “As a church, we take any allegation of misconduct very seriously. Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church requires its staff to live by the highest ethical and moral standards.

“I, along with the Staff Parish Relations Committee, need to inform the congregation that Ryan Walsh has been terminated as the youth director of the church. There is an investigation under way, and the church will fully cooperate with authorities in this matter.

“The well-being of all children and youth is a priority. To that end, we will be arranging for counselors and other caring professionals to meet with our youth and families. In a few days, a meeting will take place to plan the future of the youth ministry.

“Please keep our church, our youth and all involved in your prayers.”

Due to the seriousness of the allegations, the church invited Dr. Don Winslett and Dr. John Hodges from the Child and Family Development Center to host separate grief and crisis counseling sessions for students and parents at the church on Sunday, Feb. 9, “the first of many opportunities for us to come together in this time of healing,” Rev. Morris said.

As of press time, Walsh was incarcerated at the Santa Rosa County Jail. The judge set at $45,000.

The investigation is ongoing in this case.

If anyone has any further information regarding this or other cases, please contact the Gulf Breeze Police Department, Investigation Division at (850) 934-5121.