TAMPA, Fla. — The man accused of trying to kill two Hillsborough County deputies by ramming them with his car will be examined for mental illness and competence to stand trial according to newly filed court documents.
28-year-old Ralph Bouzy reportedly caused severe injury to two deputies after hitting them with his car while they were responding to a call from his mother. His mother, whom Bouzy lived with, had said he was acting "irrational and violent," leaving her in fear for her life.
Bouzy's pretrial hearing was postponed as his attorney formally filed a request for a mental evaluation, expressing a belief that Bouzy would not be able to participate in his defense in his current mental state.
According to the motion filed in court, Bouzy had previously been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, meaning that he showed symptoms of both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The motion also said that in the days leading up to Bouzy's attack on deputies, his mother had called crisis services and petitioned for her son to be given emergency services due to his behavior. She also said he had run out of his prescription medication.
Because of this, Bouzy's attorney requested that the court also appoint a psychiatrist to evaluate his mental state and determine his fitness to stand trial.
Bouzy was determined to have a violent criminal history, having previously been arrested for three felonies and 14 misdemeanors. His court-ordered psychiatric evaluation is due on Dec. 6.
The deputies he hit, Deputy Manny Santos and Corporal Carlos Brito survived their injuries, which included severe leg injuries that required surgery.