BRADENTON (WSNN) – A confrontation with the police almost turns deadly, when an officer shoots a suspect who almost ran him over. That suspect is Charles Mickel III.
“It’s one of those scenarios, it all probably took place in a matter of minutes, but it felt like days,” BPD Captain Brian Thiers said.
Around 10 am, Thursday, officers were dispatched to Bradenton’s Blue Boy Motel when the manager called about a trespasser.
“The caller also, in the statement to 911, stated the subject was armed with a knife and threatening her,” Thiers said.
An anonymous eye-witness said it was a white man who had an issue with payment.
“They were trying to get him to leave because he was refusing to pay,” the eye-witness said.
That’s when three Bradenton police officers showed up.
“The cops confronted the guy to leave, the guy kept causing problems the whole time. He ended up having a knife in his hand, I guess,” the eye-witness said. “And then ran to his vehicle, jumped in, and backed up trying to leave almost hitting the cop.”
Police say Mickel slammed into one of the officers while trying to flee. That officer then fired his gun through the windshield while on top of the car’s hood.
The eye-witness said he heard, “Three gunshots going off.”
One of the bullets struck Mickel, who nearly died.
“They immediately jumped in, rendered first aid, were calling for ambulances, doing everything that they could, talking to the suspect,” Thiers said.
Mickel was taken to Blake Trauma Center for gunshot wounds.
“He’s currently at the hospital being treated, but is alive,” Thiers said.
Mickel is charged with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a vehicle and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He had just finished serving 15 years in prison for Robbery.
Police say one officer has minor injuries, but they are not identifying that officer at this time. He has been placed on an administrative assignment. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating.
