{"id":5049,"date":"2026-04-23T08:54:43","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T12:54:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/duye.live\/?p=5049"},"modified":"2026-04-23T08:54:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T12:54:44","slug":"deputy-hits-man-with-patrol-vehicle-after-suspect-pulls-out-gun-bodycam-footage-shows-split-second-decision-that-prevented-bloodshed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/duye.live\/?p=5049","title":{"rendered":"Deputy Hits Man With Patrol Vehicle After Suspect Pulls Out Gun \u2014 Bodycam Footage Shows Split-Second Decision That Prevented Bloodshed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A tense confrontation between a Florida deputy and an armed suspect ended in dramatic fashion when the deputy used his patrol vehicle to stop the man after he pulled out a gun. Newly released&nbsp;<strong>bodycam and dashcam footage<\/strong>&nbsp;shows the shocking moment the suspect aimed the weapon at deputies \u2014 and the split-second reaction that may have saved lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Incident<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the&nbsp;<strong>Marion County Sheriff\u2019s Office (MCSO)<\/strong>, the incident occurred just after&nbsp;<strong>6:00 p.m. Wednesday evening<\/strong>&nbsp;on a rural stretch of&nbsp;<strong>County Road 25<\/strong>&nbsp;near Ocklawaha, Florida. Deputies had been searching for&nbsp;<strong>32-year-old Michael Benson<\/strong>, wanted on multiple felony warrants including&nbsp;<strong>aggravated assault<\/strong>,&nbsp;<strong>possession of a firearm by a convicted felon<\/strong>, and&nbsp;<strong>domestic battery<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Earlier in the day, dispatchers received several calls reporting a man walking along the roadside waving a handgun and shouting at passing vehicles. When deputies located Benson, they initially attempted a peaceful arrest \u2014 but the encounter quickly turned deadly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Initial Contact<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The newly released&nbsp;<strong>bodycam footage<\/strong>&nbsp;begins with deputies exiting their vehicles along the dusty roadside. The camera captures Benson standing in the distance, hands partially in his pockets. One deputy calls out, \u201cMichael, we just need to talk! Don\u2019t make this harder than it needs to be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Benson\u2019s voice, barely audible over the wind, responds, \u201cYou\u2019re not taking me back to jail.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deputies continue giving verbal commands: \u201cHands where we can see them! Step away from the road!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For a moment, it seems he might comply. Then, the tension breaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Moment of Escalation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In a heartbeat, Benson reaches into his waistband and pulls out a&nbsp;<strong>black semi-automatic handgun<\/strong>. The deputy\u2019s bodycam captures the motion in chilling clarity. \u201cGun! Gun! Gun!\u201d one deputy shouts as they scramble for cover behind their patrol SUVs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The situation spirals instantly into chaos. The suspect raises the gun, pointing it directly toward the deputies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At that exact moment,&nbsp;<strong>Deputy Brian Cole<\/strong>, who was arriving from the opposite direction, sees the gun from his dashcam view. Without hesitation, he makes a life-or-death decision \u2014 one that would later be deemed heroic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Impact<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<strong>dashcam video<\/strong>&nbsp;from Deputy Cole\u2019s vehicle shows the patrol SUV accelerating toward Benson, tires screeching. In the span of two seconds, the car veers off the road and strikes the suspect at an angle, knocking him to the ground and sending the gun flying several feet away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cShots fired, suspect down, gun secure!\u201d another deputy yells into the radio, though no bullets had yet been fired by law enforcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cole immediately exits his vehicle, shouting, \u201cGet the gun! Get the gun!\u201d Deputies quickly handcuff the suspect, who is moaning and attempting to roll over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bodycam footage shows one deputy retrieving the firearm from the grass \u2014 a&nbsp;<strong>loaded Glock 19<\/strong>&nbsp;with a round already chambered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Aftermath and Life-Saving Measures<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Within seconds, deputies transition from takedown to rescue. \u201cHe\u2019s breathing, get EMS!\u201d Cole orders, visibly shaken but composed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The footage captures deputies assessing Benson\u2019s injuries, applying first aid, and maintaining pressure on a wound to his leg caused by the impact. Despite being struck by the patrol vehicle, Benson was alert and talking when paramedics arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He was later transported to&nbsp;<strong>Ocala Regional Medical Center<\/strong>, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries before being booked into the&nbsp;<strong>Marion County Jail<\/strong>&nbsp;under no bond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Deputy Hits Man With Patrol Vehicle After Suspect Pulls Out Gun\" width=\"735\" height=\"413\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/L9df_MI2KKo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Sheriff\u2019s Statement<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>During a press conference Thursday morning,&nbsp;<strong>Sheriff Billy Woods<\/strong>&nbsp;defended his deputy\u2019s actions, saying the use of the vehicle was a \u201csplit-second tactical decision that prevented a gunfight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cThe suspect raised a loaded gun and aimed it at my deputies,\u201d Woods said. \u201cDeputy Cole\u2019s actions likely saved not only his life but the lives of everyone on that roadside.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Woods confirmed that the department\u2019s internal review found the use of force justified. \u201cWhen you have a split second to choose between a bullet or a bumper, you choose life,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Bodycam Footage Breakdown<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The department released a&nbsp;<strong>seven-minute video compilation<\/strong>&nbsp;combining bodycam and dashcam angles from multiple deputies. The footage, edited for privacy and graphic content, provides a clear timeline of events \u2014 from the initial contact to the moment deputies begin first aid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One section shows the deputies\u2019 panic as Benson pulls the gun, followed by the thud of impact when Cole\u2019s vehicle hits him. The synchronized view from another deputy\u2019s camera shows the gun leaving Benson\u2019s hand midair, landing just feet from the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sheriff Woods said the transparency was essential:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cWe want the public to see exactly what happened \u2014 the fear, the danger, and the restraint. My deputies didn\u2019t fire a single round, even when faced with a drawn gun. That\u2019s remarkable discipline.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Suspect\u2019s Background<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Court records show that&nbsp;<strong>Michael Benson<\/strong>&nbsp;had a long criminal history, including previous arrests for aggravated assault, drug possession, and resisting arrest. He had been released from state prison just six months earlier and was on probation at the time of the encounter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Investigators believe he was under the influence of methamphetamine during the standoff, which may have contributed to his erratic behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After his hospital release, Benson was charged with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement officer<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Resisting arrest with violence<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Violation of probation<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Community and Expert Reactions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The footage quickly went viral online, with thousands praising the deputy\u2019s quick judgment. \u201cHe used his car like a shield \u2014 that\u2019s quick thinking,\u201d one commenter wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, some critics questioned the ethics of using a vehicle as a weapon. Sheriff Woods addressed those concerns directly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cThis wasn\u2019t punishment. It was prevention. The suspect had a gun pointed at deputies. Using the patrol vehicle ended the threat immediately without a firefight in a neighborhood.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Law enforcement trainer&nbsp;<strong>Lt. Mark Healy<\/strong>&nbsp;told reporters the incident would likely become a training case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cThe use of a vehicle in deadly-force scenarios is rare, but justified when there\u2019s an imminent threat,\u201d Healy said. \u201cWhat stands out here is restraint. The deputies didn\u2019t shoot \u2014 they adapted.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Split Second Between Life and Death<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Deputy Cole, a 12-year veteran of the department, later spoke briefly with reporters, saying he was \u201cjust thankful everyone went home alive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cI didn\u2019t wake up that day thinking I\u2019d have to make a choice like that,\u201d Cole said. \u201cBut when he lifted that gun, there wasn\u2019t time to think \u2014 only to act.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Cole has been placed on standard administrative leave pending a formal review but received widespread praise from both Sheriff Woods and the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<strong>bodycam and dashcam footage<\/strong>&nbsp;from Marion County offers a visceral look at the razor\u2019s edge of policing \u2014 where hesitation can be fatal, and decisive action can mean the difference between life and death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In just 10 seconds, a wanted fugitive pulled a gun, a deputy used his patrol car as a shield, and what could have been a deadly shootout ended with no shots fired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Sheriff Woods put it at the end of his briefing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cThis was a win for everyone \u2014 for my deputies, for the community, and even for the suspect, who lived to see another day. That\u2019s what real policing looks like.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>The footage ends not with gunfire, but with a deputy\u2019s calm voice saying, \u201cStay with me, man. You\u2019re gonna be okay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a rare ending for a violent encounter \u2014 one that proves, sometimes, the most powerful weapon in law enforcement is timing, courage, and control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/duye.live\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-161.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5050\" srcset=\"https:\/\/duye.live\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-161.png 720w, https:\/\/duye.live\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-161-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/duye.live\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-161-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A tense confrontation between a Florida deputy and an armed suspect ended in dramatic fashion when the deputy used his patrol vehicle to stop the man after he pulled out &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5050,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5049","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/duye.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5049","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/duye.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/duye.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duye.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duye.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5049"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/duye.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5049\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5051,"href":"https:\/\/duye.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5049\/revisions\/5051"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duye.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5050"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/duye.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5049"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duye.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5049"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/duye.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5049"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}