By Suzie Ziegler
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office praised two citizens who rushed to the aid of a deputy under attack earlier this week.
According to the sheriff’s office, Deputy Anthony Zimmerer was trying to put handcuffs on a suspect when the man began to resist. The suspect, identified as Frank Velez, hit Zimmerer in the head, knocked the cuffs to the ground and began fighting the deputy. Zimmerer tried to use a TASER but it had no effect.
That’s when two passersby jumped out of their vehicles to help. Most of the scene was captured by the deputy’s body camera before the struggle caused it to switch off, the sheriff’s office said.
Velez was booked on a slew of charges including violence, battery on a law enforcement officer and careless driving.
The sheriff’s office said the two good Samaritans will be receiving citizen’s awards for their actions.
“All my respect and gratitude goes out to these two men who took action when they saw a deputy under attack,” said Sheriff Mike Chitwood in a statement. “It makes me proud to know that in Volusia County, our residents still have our deputies’ backs.”
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