It looks as if this case has opened the eyes of many as to how the local Sheriff chooses to enforce (or not enforce) the laws and ordinances of the County and State.
While most everyone is pondering how this could be, let's not forget this case from Summer 2015:
Walton County Woman Arrested on Battery Charges
If you cannot access the link, her name is Edie Batt. She is a property owner in South Walton who was arrested and taken to jail for slapping a cell phone out of the hand of another female she (Batt) believed was Trespassing on her private property.
The "battery" that occurred in this case was a misdemeanor crime and Could Have been handled with a Notice To Appear Summons, in lieu of a physical arrest.
She was arrested and taken to jail in DeFuniak Springs...
Compare this case to the Pastor Attack and I feel there are lots of questions that need to be answered.
There are other examples of the Sheriff choosing to not enforce laws, with little or no explanation, for example; noise ordinance violations, wedding house nuisance disturbances, the infamous beach chair guy being attacked by a drunk wedding party...