A man in Florida intentionally injured two sheriff’s deputies by driving into them before being arrested by a third deputy. The incident occurred in Brandon, a suburb of Tampa, when the deputies responded to a call about the man’s erratic behavior. The suspect, who had a history of hostility towards law enforcement, is now facing charges of attempted murder. CityNews Toronto reported
Florida Man Deliberately Drives into Deputies, Inflicting Severe Injuries
In a shocking incident in Brandon, Florida, two Hillsborough County deputies were intentionally struck by a 28-year-old man, causing severe leg injuries. The deputies had responded to a distress call from a concerned woman regarding her son’s erratic behavior, as reported by Sheriff Chad Chronister during a press conference. The suspect, who was sitting inside a running vehicle parked outside his house, quickly fled the scene when the deputies attempted to approach him.
Shortly afterwards, the driver returned and accelerated towards the deputies, deliberately crashing into them and trapping them against a patrol vehicle. Both deputies suffered significant leg injuries but are expected to recover. Sheriff Chronister described the incident as an “ambush,” highlighting the suspect’s use of his car as a weapon and the deputies’ lack of time to react.
The injured deputies have been identified as Carlos Brito, aged 39, and Manny Santos, aged 31. Following the collision, the suspect exited his vehicle and made an attempt to enter his house. However, another deputy who had arrived at the scene promptly subdued him.
The suspect now faces charges of attempted murder of law enforcement officers. Sheriff Chronister revealed that the individual had a previous criminal record consisting of three felonies and 14 misdemeanors, further indicating his animosity towards law enforcement.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
The Associated Press
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