A Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputy is injured on the ground as Ralph Bouzy approaches a second deputy (screengrab from video provided by the Hillsborough County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office).
Ralph Bouzy, 28, faces charges of attempted murder of law enforcement officers after sheriffs in Florida say he drove his car into deputies during an “ambush” attack.
“This was intentional,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said during a press conference in Florida on Thursday.
Just before 8 a.m. Thursday morning, local police said they received a call from a woman who said her son was experiencing a mental health crisis at the residence they shared. In fear for her life, she asked police to help.
But when they arrived on the scene, the Tampa Free Press reported that Bouzy would not cooperate and refused to answer questions. Instead, he stayed in his vehicle until deciding to abruptly leave.
He returned within 15 minutes but this time, driving wildly and heading straight for police, Chronister said Bouzy “deliberately accelerated” into two deputies who were standing outside of their vehicles.
Body camera footage shows the deputies attempt to scatter to avoid being struck but they were ultimately pinned between patrol cars.
According to local NBC affiliate WFLA, one of the officers, Carlos Brito, may need his leg amputated after a piece of his femur became stuck in one of the vehicles. Another officer, Manny Santos, also has significant injuries to his legs, including a reported “bilateral break,” meaning that both of his legs are likely broken.
“There is no other way to describe this other than an ambush. Our deputies put their lives on the line every day to protect this community and what happened today makes me absolutely sick,” Chronister said.
Watch the video, which Hillsdeputies warn is graphic and disturbing, here.
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