An unsettling video shows the moment that a Florida man mowed down two deputies in an alleged “ambush” attack, according to police. The cops were critically injured, and one officer may need to have his leg amputated.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office stated that officers responded to a 911 call from a mother who said she was in fear of her son being violent. The mother allegedly told police that her son, Ralph Bouzy, was suffering from a mental health crisis.
Shortly before 8 a.m. on Thursday, officers arrived at the residence in Brandon, Florida. Deputies encountered Bouzy in the driver’s seat of a car in the driveway of his home, according to a news release from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Officers reportedly assured the 28-year-old Florida man that they were there to help. However, Bouzy refused to speak to the police and quickly drove away.
Bouzy drove back to the scene just minutes later in a Nissan Altima. Two deputies were standing beside a police SUV, and video shows Bouzy barrel into the deputies – pinning them to the patrol vehicle.
As the deputies were strewn on the pavement after suffering excruciating injuries, Bouzy calmly got out of his vehicle and walked toward another officer who was not hit by the vehicle. Police bodycam video shows Bouzy refusing to adhere to commands from the officers.
Police bodycam footage shows a deputy deploy a Taser on Bouzy, which causes him to fall to the pavement. Another officer apprehended the suspect while he was on the ground.
Bouzy was arrested and charged with three counts of attempted murder on a law enforcement officer.
Law enforcement noted that Bouzy has an extensive criminal history, with three felonies and 14 misdemeanors. In 2017, Bouzy was involved in a hit-and-run in which he punched a deputy in the face, according to WFLA.
“There is no other way to describe this other than an ambush,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Our deputies put their lives on the line every day to protect this community and what happened today makes me absolutely sick.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that he and his wife, Casey, are “praying for the deputies who were seriously injured during this ambush in Brandon.”
“We don’t tolerate attacks on our law enforcement officers in Florida,” DeSantis declared. “The coward who brutally attacked these deputies will be punished.”
Corporal Carlos Brito, 39, and Deputy Manuel Santos, 31, suffered critical injuries and are receiving medical treatment at Tampa General Hospital.
Santos has a bilateral break in his leg with extensive ligament damage that will require surgery.
Brito’s injuries are so severe that his leg might have to be amputated. Brito’s leg was crushed in between the two vehicles to the point that a piece of his femur bone was stuck in the car. A surgeon requested that the bone be dislodged from the vehicle and brought to the hospital to help save his leg.
Chronister said, “Deputy Brito is awake and surrounded by his family. The surgeons are monitoring his progress and continue to do everything possible to save his leg.”
“Corporal Brito and Deputy Santos came to work today committed to making a difference in their community,” Chronister added. “Because of this man’s deliberate and intentional actions, their lives, and their family’s lives are changed forever.”
(WARNING: Graphic video)
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