Deputy Recalls 'Scariest Moments Of His life' As Car Runs 2 Cops Down

BRANDON, FL — Critically injured Hillsborough County sheriff's Deputy Manny Santos gave an emotional interview Sunday after being released from Tampa General Hospital where his more severely injured co-worker, Cpl. Carlos Brito, underwent another surgery over the weekend to repair his crushed leg in an attempt to avoid amputation.

Brito, 39, and Santos, 31, were rushed to the trauma center at Tampa General Hospital Thursday after a Brandon man with mental health issues mowed them down with his Nissan Altima outside his mother's home on Dexwell Court in Heather Lakes subdivision in Brandon, authorities said.

Both deputies were struck by the Nissan driven by Ralph Bouzy, 28, with Brito crushed between his sheriff's sports utility vehicle and the car.

A piece of the femur bone in Brito's leg became stuck between the Nissan and his sheriff's SUV.
The surgeon at Tampa General asked deputies at the scene to transport the piece of femur bone left at the scene to the hospital so he could use it to try to save Brito's leg.

"Surgeons are doing everything they can to save the leg," said Chronister, adding doctors anticipate more surgeries and a long rehabilitation for the corporal, who remains in critical condition at the hospital, where he's surrounded by family members.

Santos suffered a bilateral break in one leg and extensive ligament damage.

Chronister joined Santos as he was discharged from the hospital in a wheelchair.

"Both deputies are in for a long road to recovery," said Chronister. "I'm so grateful that tonight, Deputy Santos, gets to walk out of here, or even get wheeled out of here, on his own accord and that he's alive."

Deputy Santos called the moments leading up to Ralph Bouzy trying to kill him by driving a vehicle into him the "scariest moments of his life."

At 7:44 a.m. Thursday, the sheriff's communications center received a call from a woman who lives on Dexwell Court who said her son, who has a history of mental health problems, was behaving violently, kicking in doors throughout the home. She told dispatchers that she feared for her life.

When Santos and Brito arrived, they found Bouzy, 28, sitting in the driver's seat of a Nissan Altima in the driveway of the home on Drexwell Court. They said they tried to talk to him, asking how they could help, but they said Bouzy refused to speak to them.

“They try to establish a rapport,” Chronister said. “They try to de-escalate the situation. He wants nothing to do with the deputies. He won’t roll the window down. He won’t open up the door. He won’t even engage in conversation.”

Instead, Chronister said Bouzy put the car in reverse and drove off.

Santos said they were still at the mother's home when he heard tires squealing, and saw the Bouzy was returning to the scene.

"I heard tires squealing and I told Torres (another deputy at the scene), 'Hey, be careful. That might be him," said Santos, pausing a moment in his recitation of events to gather his emotions. "He comes back, we see the car. Immediately, I tried to push corporal out of the way from what I've been told. I didn't even know I did that; it's just who I am. I push him out of the way. I push myself out of the way. I fell on the ground and made sure I wasn't bleeding and I didn't need a tourniquet.

"When I saw I wasn't, I got back in the fight, pulled my firearm out and pointed it towards this guy, this monster person man. I see him, I don't see any firearms, I see him eyeballing one of my partners, which is Vincent Valentine, one of my best friends, (he) makes eye contact with him. I hear him (Valentine) giving verbal commands and as soon as I notice that I say, 'That's my saving grace, right?' I holstered, I flipped over and made sure I kept eyes on my partners and I called for EMS," Santo said.

He's well aware of how close he came to losing his life.

"I'm extremely happy. There's nothing better than to see the light of day out here," he said. "The chances of me being here were obviously slim to none. But I made it out of here."

Related:

• 2 Florida Deputies Critically Injured, 1 May Lose His Leg: Sheriff
• Fund Established To Support Critically Injured Hillsborough Deputies

Chronister released a video from neighboring home surveillance cameras showing the moments when Bouzy crashed into the deputies.

“There is no other way to describe this other than an ambush,” said Chronister. “Our deputies put their lives on the line every day to protect this community and what happened today makes me absolutely sick.”

Bouzy was eventually brought down by stun guns fired by two other deputies at the scene. He has been charged with three counts of attempted murder of law enforcement officers and is being held in the Hillsborough County Jail without bail.

Chronister said detectives have since learned that Bouzy has a long history of mental problems. There have been more than a dozen mental health cases in Hillsborough County Court involving Bouzy including four this year.

Additionally, Bouzy was previously charged with three felonies and 14 misdemeanors.

Chronister said there's been an outpouring of prayers and support from the community following the crash.

"You can never underestimate the power of prayer and our community stands tall, side by side with Cpl. Brito and Deputy Santo. This is an absolute blessing," he said, adding that residents wishing to help the deputies are welcome to donate to the Lynn Sowers Memorial Foundation.

"As Cpl. Brito and Deputy Santos continue their recovery, you can help support them and their families," Chronister said.

"The funds raised through the Lynn Sowers Memorial Foundation will go toward covering medical expenses, rehabilitation and any additional support needed for them and their families," Chronister said.

To donate to the foundation, click here.