TAMPA, Florida — Doctors say they're doing "whatever they can" to save Corporal Carlos Brito's leg after he was intentionally hit by a driver in Brandon — and through it all, he remains "in great spirits."
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office shared an update on Brito, 39, on Sunday morning along with photos of the corporal surrounded by family and friends, including Sheriff Chad Chronister, in the hospital.
Brito's leg was severely damaged in the attack. He has already had two surgeries and "the medical staff at TGH is doing everything possible to set him up for a full recovery," the sheriff's office said.
Chronister said doctors are "cautiously optimistic" about being able to save the corporal's leg.
Brito and Deputy Manny Santos, 31, were two of several deputies who responded to a 911 call from a woman who said her son was acting "irrational and violent."
Deputies arrived to find 28-year-old Ralph Bouzy sitting in the driver's seat of his car. They said Bouzy ignored deputies' commands and drove away.
However, Bouzy returned to the scene and intentionally rammed his car into Brito and Santos, pinning them between his car and one of the deputies' SUVs, the sheriff's office said.
Deputy Santos was released from the hospital on Saturday, and 10 Tampa Bay was there to capture the emotional moments.
"I'm happy to be here," Santos said outside the hospital. "The chances of me being here obviously were pretty slim to none for a second but I made it out here."
According to Chronister, one of the first things Santos did after deputies subdued Bouzy was tell them that he was fine, and to "take care of the Corporal [Brito]."
Bouzy, is reportedly still "very violent" and has hit at least two deputies in the face since being in custody. He faces multiple counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer.
10 Tampa Bay's Claire Farrow contributed to this report.