ORLANDO, Fla. — A man in Orlando, Florida hit the police and injured two officers with brick on Saturday morning. The police revealed that the culprit had set up a video live stream on Facebook before causing the incident. The attack took place when the officers were standing at Magnolia Avenue around 12:40 a.m. on Saturday “as part of a downtown detail”, police said.
The culprit was identified as William McClish, 27. A number of charges have been filed against him, including an attempt at the first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer with a weapon, said the police.
Videos of the attack are doing rounds on YouTube, which was posted by the Orlando Police Department. The footage shows a man walking towards a police car while picking up something from the ground. Thereafter, the man moves towards the police car and starts ambushing them with the brick. A second officer comes to the rescue and starts punching the man to the ground. The dispute, however, continued but the camera couldn’t capture the whole of it. Subsequently, the squabble took attention and more police arrived on the scene.
Nearly four officers could finally arrest the man.
The YouTube description of the live stream by the Orlando police stated: “It was determined the man set up a camera to live-stream the attack to Facebook – that is the source of the video above.”
Further, police Chief Orlando Rolón also issued a statement citing that the incident marks the second unprovoked attack on Orlando police officers in one week.
Eyewitnesses reported that the officer was speaking with another officer when a man suddenly attacked without warning.
Rolón also stated: “One officer has a significant facial injury. The other was bit and nearly had his eye gouged out. Our officers will recover from their injuries, but individuals like this who take premeditated steps to harm law enforcement officers and other human beings must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
Another attack on the police had taken place just a few days ago when several individuals opened fire on two police officers.
According to a report by news station WESH, in a similar incident on Tuesday, two Orlando police officers were investigating a tip in an unmarked vehicle when three men opened fire on them. Officers returned fire. None of the officers were injured. Three men have been arrested in connection with the shooting.
Rolón said: “We cannot wait for an officer or a citizen to be murdered. Prosecution and proper sentencing will be a deterrent for those who think they will only get a slap on the hand and probation soon after a short time in prison.”
While one officer hit with the bricks sustained severe nose injury, the second officer suffered profound eye damage with his left eye gouged out. He was bitten several times on his arm and hand.
McClish was later taken into custody following the attack.
