MIMS, Fla. – Two Brevard County sheriff's deputies were injured Tuesday after being tackled and attacked with a baton while investigating a disturbance call in Mims.
Brevard County Sheriff's Office said Deputy Michael Hriciso and Deputy Marie Skinner were dispatched to a home in the 2600 block of Pineapple Avenue just before 11:30 a.m. after a caller reported hearing a violent argument between a man and a woman in the backyard.
When the deputies arrived, the homeowner denied deputies entrance, according to a release, but the deputies heard the altercation in the backyard and entered the area.
BCSO said as the deputies began separating the couple, identified as Skylar Francis and Courtney Johnson, Francis, 22, struck Hriciso in the head with a metal, collapsible baton.
As Hriciso fell to the ground, Francis continued to strike him in face and head, according to deputies. Skinner was also struck by the baton in the head as she tried to help Hriciso.
The deputies were able to subdue the couple and called for help. As additional deputies arrived on the scene, Johnson, 22, started to interfere with Francis' arrest, according to BCSO. She was charged with resisting arrest without violence.
Francis was charged with two counts of attempted murder on a law enforcement officer.
Both deputies were taken to the hospital and are expected to be OK.
Hriciso has been employed with BCSO for 17 years and is a Navy veteran. Skinner has been employed with BCSO for 18 years and had also worked with Titusville Police Department.