BRANDON, Fla. — Two Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies are in surgery after they were intentionally targeted by a man with a violent criminal history, Sheriff Chad Chronister said during a news conference Thursday.
"Today the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office was intentionally attacked and targeted and ambushed by a man determined to kill deputy sheriffs," Chronister said.
Chronister explains it all started after deputies responded to a 911 call from 28-year-old Ralph Bouzy's mother. She said her son, who lives with her, was acting "irrational and violent," and she was in fear for her life.
The first two deputies arrived around 7:45 a.m. in the Heather Lakes subdivision cul-de-sac in the area of Flaxwood and Blufield avenues. Chronister said the two deputies parked by the neighbor's house and approached Bouzy, who was sitting in the driver's seat of his car.
Despite attempts to de-escalate the situation, Chronister said Bouzy refused to speak with deputies, put the car in reverse and drove away. It could've ended there, but it didn't.
"When I talk about being deliberate and intentional, he chose to return to the scene," Chronister said.
When Bouzy returns, he narrowly avoids hitting two other deputies who had just arrived near the entrance of the cul-de-sac. They responded after learning about his "violent history," Chronister explained.
Chronister said when Bouzy returned to the cul-de-sac, he was driving at a high rate of speed. Seconds after narrowly missing those two deputies, Chronister said Bouzy intentionally aimed his car toward the original two deputies, ultimately hitting them and pushing them between his car and one of the deputy's marked SUVs, pinning them between the two cars.
Chronister said the force of the impact caused part of one of the deputy's femur bones to become lodged in one of the cars. Both deputies were about 10 feet from their cars and were on the side of the street when Bouzy hit them, the sheriff added.
"These deputies didn't have a chance to get out of the way," Chronister said.
Corporal Carlos Brito suffered the most serious injuries, mainly to his legs, including the above injury to his femur. Chronister said his leg may have to be amputated.
Deputy Manny Santos also suffered serious injuries and both deputies were airlifted to the hospital. Both deputies were in surgery as of 11:30 a.m.
After hitting deputies Brito and Santos, Chronister said Bouzy got out of his car and started to walk to his house. That's when the two other deputies worked to subdue him, ultimately tasing him and taking him into custody. He is facing attempted murder of law enforcement officer charges.
Chronister said Bouzy has been arrested five times in the past and faced numerous felony and misdemeanor charges. The sheriff highlighted an arrest back in 2017.
Bouzy was suspected in a hit-and-run and ended up punching a deputy in the face, Chronister said. He added that while Bouzy was in the back of the patrol car, he said he "hated law enforcement and that he was going to kill a deputy sheriff."
"He was almost successful here today," Chronister said. "Thankfully, regardless of how injured they are, the recovery that they may face, both deputies are alive."
Previous reporting from 10 Tampa Bay in 2015 shows Bouzy was arrested after intentionally trying to hit a Hillsborough sheriff's deputy on Heather Lakes Boulevard, the same area where he was arrested today. That deputy was able to swerve his patrol vehicle before being hit.
Watch the full news conference below.