A Florida man intentionally injured two sheriff’s deputies by driving into them, as they responded to a call about his erratic behavior. The suspect, who had a history of hostility towards law enforcement, was arrested for attempted murder. The deputies suffered severe leg injuries but are expected to recover. Associated Press reported
Florida Man Intentionally Drives Into Deputies, Causing Serious Injuries
In a shocking incident in Brandon, Florida, a 28-year-old man purposely drove into two Hillsborough County deputies on Thursday, inflicting severe injuries on them. The incident occurred while the deputies were responding to a distress call from a woman who expressed concern about her adult son’s irrational behavior and her fear for her safety. The man was initially sitting in a running car outside his residence in the Tampa suburb of Brandon, and when the deputies tried to approach him, he quickly fled the scene.
However, the driver returned shortly thereafter, accelerating his vehicle and intentionally ramming into the deputies, trapping them against a patrol vehicle. As a result of this deliberate act, both deputies suffered significant leg injuries, but fortunately, they are expected to recover.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, during a press conference, described the incident as an “ambush,” emphasizing that the driver had chosen to use his car as a weapon, leaving the deputies with no chance to evade the attack. The injured deputies have been identified as Carlos Brito, aged 39, and Manny Santos, aged 31. Chronister revealed that after colliding with the deputies, the suspect exited his vehicle and attempted to enter his house. However, another deputy arrived at the scene and successfully apprehended him.
The suspect now faces charges of attempted murder of law enforcement officers. According to Sheriff Chronister, the man had a criminal history, having been previously arrested for three felonies and 14 misdemeanors. Additionally, he had shown hostility towards law enforcement in the past.
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