Florida man charged with two counts of battery for attacking deputies who tried to rescue him
By: -----
Palm Coast, FL - A 47-year-old man in Palm Coast was arrested on two counts of battery on an officer after allegedly attacking Flagler County deputies who went into a canal to assist him on Friday.
The canal, according to the sheriff's office, is known to have snakes and alligators. District Commander Kenny Goncalves of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office said, "He pushed one of our deputies in the head, tried to put his head underwater, and he actually tried to grab another deputy by the neck."
The first contact with Ryan McMinn occurred earlier Friday when law enforcement received a call about him acting "manic" and leaving his home through a window. At one point, a deputy found McMinn shirtless and lying outside an elementary school in Palm Coast.
"He stood up and took off running," Goncalves said.
Later, a 911 caller reported McMinn crawling around their yard and attempting to climb the side of their house. A deputy eventually located him in the brush behind some houses near the canal.
Body camera footage shows a deputy approaching McMinn and asking, "Are you Ryan?" and speaking with him briefly before McMinn goes into the water.
An arrest report states that a deputy followed McMinn as he swam down the canal. Deputies walked along the banks, trying to communicate with him.
"We were walking the banks with him, asking him if he was OK," Goncalves said.
Eventually, after it seemed like McMinn might be getting exhausted.
"Two of our deputies took down their gear and volunteered to go in the water and try to help him out," Goncalves said.
Moments after entering the water, a struggle ensued. The arrest report accuses McMinn of attempting to push one deputy's head underwater and grabbing another deputy by the neck.
"They were put in a very dangerous situation," Goncalves said.
Deputies were eventually able to bring McMinn to land, where he was secured in handcuffs. McMinn now faces two counts of battery on an officer.