Deputy in ‘Ambush’ Describes Being Mowed Down by Suspect in Car: ‘Scariest Moment of My Life’

A Florida deputy who was critically injured after being “ambushed” and struck by a vehicle has described the ordeal as the “scariest moment of my life.”

Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) said Deputy Manuel Santos, 31, was one of deputies who responded to a mental health call on Thursday when a suspect deliberately drove his car into them.

HCSO released surveillance and body camera footage video of the violent collision on social media.

WARNING: The following video contains content some readers may find highly disturbing.

Santos suffered a broken leg and required surgery but was wheeled outside of Tampa General Hospital after his release just days later. A crowd made up of his friends, family and fellow officers applauded as he exited the facility on Saturday. 

When asked how he felt, Santos said he was "extremely happy," WTVT News reports.

“There’s nothing better than to see the light of day out here,” Santos told reporters at a news conference. ”The chances of me being here were pretty slim to none for a second, but I made it out here.”

Santos said that he has damage to ligaments and tendons and that he would need to undergo reconstructive surgery for his knee. He also said his tibia and fibula are “destroyed.” 

He is unsure how soon he will be back on patrol, but wants it to be “as soon as possible.”

On the day of the incident, which police have called an "ambush," Santos said he and the other deputies believed the suspect, Ralph Bouzy, had fled the scene. Responding officers had said they found Bouzy in the driver's seat of a vehicle in his driveway, and that he refused to speak to the officers and drove away.

But then, they heard "tires squealing" and saw the car speeding towards them, Santos said, so he immediately tried to push Corporal Carlos Brito and himself out of the way before impact.

Afterward, Santos said he made he wasn't bleeding, pulled out his firearm, instructed others deputies at the scene to take the suspect into custody and called for emergency services.

Santos said it all felt like it unfolded within seconds.

"It was the scariest moment of my life," he said.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said that he was “so grateful” that Santos “gets to walk out of here, or even get wheeled out of here, on his own accord and that he's alive,” according to WTVT.

The other deputy struck that day, Brito, 39, is said to be in worse condition and remains hospitalized. Surgeons have been working to save his leg, according to WFTS.

Bouzy, 28, was charged with three counts of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer. His mother contacted deputies earlier that day because he was in a "mental health crisis" at their home, police said on social media. 

"There is no other way to describe this other than an ambush," Chronister said in a statement after the attack. "Our deputies put their lives on the line every day to protect this community and what happened today makes me absolutely sick."

Bouzy was previously arrested for three felonies and 14 misdemeanors, according to police.