Moment two Good Samaritans step in to help Florida deputy when suspect attacks, leaving one of them dripping with blood

 A Good Samaritan was left dripping with blood after stepping in to help a sheriff's deputy attacked by a suspect following a traffic stop. 

That man and another have-a-go-hero who stepped in to help are now being given awards for assisting the deputy with Tuesday's violent arrest in Deltona, Florida. 

The incident began when a black Ford F-150 cut across all lanes of traffic and almost hit a deputy, the Volusia Sheriff's Office said on Facebook.    

'We want to send out a big THANK YOU to the two outstanding citizens who stopped to help a deputy who was involved in a scuffle at a traffic stop in Deltona,' the post reads. 


A traffic stop in Deltona, Florida went off the rails on Tuesday afternoon, leading witnesses to step in and help out

A traffic stop in Deltona, Florida went off the rails on Tuesday afternoon, leading witnesses to step in and help out

It began with Frank Padilla Velez, 41, allegedly cutting off lanes of traffic with his truck

It began with Frank Padilla Velez, 41, allegedly cutting off lanes of traffic with his truck

Deputy Anthony Zimmerer began to conduct a traffic stop on the driver, identified as Frank Padilla Velez, 41, who was behaving erratically after the car swooped across traffic.

In video posted by the Sheriff's Office, the deputy asks the man leaving the front seat of his pickup truck about what he's doing. 


The deputy notes that the man needs to calm down as he drifts around on the street in the middle of a lane.

'Calm down. What is going on?' the deputy asks.

The deputy then grabs him and begins to arrest him, having his hands behind his back, before a scuffle seemingly breaks out, with another man later saying the suspect allegedly swung at the officer. 

Footage of most of the altercation was obscured by Zimmerer's bodycam while he tussled with Padilla.  

Deputy Anthony Zimmerer attempted to arrest Padilla, who allegedly elbowed the deputy

Deputy Anthony Zimmerer attempted to arrest Padilla, who allegedly elbowed the deputy

Two unnamed witnesses (pictured) then jumped in to help the deputy out

Two unnamed witnesses (pictured) then jumped in to help the deputy out

At least one of the witnesses was seen holding down Padilla during the confrontation

At least one of the witnesses was seen holding down Padilla during the confrontation

The Sheriff's Office alleges Padilla nailed Zimmerer with an elbow to the head before knocking the handcuffs into the middle of the road, sparking a fight.

Two witnesses saw the scuffle and jumped out of their vehicles to assist, according to the Sheriff's Office.  

Video from another camera shows two unnamed heroes joining in to help out the deputy, who screams at the man to get his hands behind his back.

Padilla tried to bite Zimmerer’s leg during the arrest, according to the Sherriff's Office, which also deployed a Taser to no effect.  

Padilla was charged with resisting an officer with violence, battery on a law enforcement officer, driving with a suspended license, careless driving, and expired registration

Padilla was charged with resisting an officer with violence, battery on a law enforcement officer, driving with a suspended license, careless driving, and expired registration

This witness claimed that he helped get Padilla's defensive dog back into the vehicle

This witness claimed that he helped get Padilla's defensive dog back into the vehicle

This witness was left with blood on his head. He and the other witness will receive awards

This witness was left with blood on his head. He and the other witness will receive awards

The other two men help hold down the man while the arrest is going down. One of the men, with gray hair, appears to have blood on his face and clothes afterwards. 

One of the men then accuses the suspect of hitting him. Meanwhile, one of the witnesses who joined claimed to help put Padilla’s dog safely back into the suspect's truck after it jumped out to protect its owner.

'You hit me, buddy. You hit me,' a citizen can be heard saying to Padilla.

More deputies ultimately arrived to help take Padilla into custody. He was charged with resisting an officer with violence, battery on a law enforcement officer, driving with a suspended license, careless driving, and expired registration. 

Announcing the awards, Sheriff Mike Chitwood said: 'All my respect and gratitude goes out to these two men who took action when they saw a deputy under attack. It makes me proud to know that in Volusia County, our residents still have our deputies' backs.'  

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