Two Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies sustained serious injuries on Thursday morning while responding to a call for service.
On November 9, 2023, the HCSO Communications Center received a call at 7:44 a.m. from a woman stating that she was in fear of her son, who was behaving violently at their home in Brandon, located on Dexwell Court.
When the deputies arrived, they came into contact with Ralph Bouzy, 28, who was in the driver’s seat of a vehicle in the driveway of his home. Deputies tried to make contact with him, expressing they were there to help, but Bouzy refused to speak to them and drove away.
Just after 8:00 a.m., Bouzy returned to the scene, deliberately ambushing the deputies there. He accelerated his vehicle as he turned onto Dexwell Court, causing a deputy to jump out of the way to avoid being hit. Bouzy then continued to speed towards two deputies standing outside of their marked patrol SUV, violently colliding with both deputies.
Video of attack on two HCSO deputies courtesy of HCSO
“There is no other way to describe this other than an ambush,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Our deputies put their lives on the line every day to protect this community and what happened today makes me absolutely sick.”
The two deputies involved were Corporal Carlos Brito, 39, and Deputy Manuel Santos, 31. Both sustained serious, critical injuries and are receiving treatment at Tampa General Hospital.
Two other deputies encountered Bouzy after he exited his vehicle. After he refused law enforcement commands, a taser was deployed and Bouzy was taken into custody.
Corporal Brito has been with HCSO since 2013. Deputy Santos started at HCSO in 2019.
“Corporal Brito and Deputy Santos came to work today committed to making a difference in their community,” added Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Because of this man’s deliberate and intentional actions, their lives, and their family’s lives are changed forever.”
Bouzy has previously been arrested for three felonies and 14 misdemeanors. He is facing charges of Attempted Murder on a Law Enforcement Officer (X3).
Deputy Santos has a bilateral break in his leg with extensive ligament damage and required surgery.
According to Sheriff Chad Chronister, Deputy Brito is awake and surrounded by his family, the surgeons are monitoring his progress and continue to do everything possible to save his leg.
Sheriff Chad Chronister and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office were happy to join Deputy Manuel Santos as he was discharged from Tampa General Hospital on Saturday.
Deputy Santos called the moments leading up to Ralph Bouzy trying to murder him by driving a vehicle into him the “scariest moments of his life.”
Corporal Brito is just out of another surgery and making progress and the TGH medical team is doing everything possible to save his left leg. Doctors also confirmed he has a broken fibula in his right leg.
“Both deputies are in for a long road to recovery,” said Sheriff Chad 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.”
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office would like to share a donation page established to support Corporal Brito and Deputy Santos during their recovery.
The funds raised through the Lynn Sowers Memorial Foundation will go towards covering medical expenses, rehabilitation, and any additional support needed for them and their families.
We have included a link to the donation page here.