Five Arrested After Deputy Gets Attacked By Mob Of Men

[EXCELSIOR]

Five Arrested After Deputy Gets Attacked By Mob Of Men

POSTED: 6:19 am EDT March 24, 2008
UPDATED: 3:35 pm EDT March 24, 2008

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. -- Five men, including four illegal immigrants have been caught after cops say they attacked a Lake County deputy. It happened on Long Acres Road in Sorrento, just off State Road 46, Sunday night.

SLIDESHOW: Images From The Scene Of The Attack
RAW INTERVIEW: Deputy Describes Being Attacked Responding To Call

Lake County sheriff's deputies used their helicopter to search the area in an attempt to find the men who beat up Deputy Cliff McMennamy.

"You wouldn't think a noise complaint would generate something like that," the deputy told Eyewitness News in an interview over the phone Monday morning.

McMennamy said he was checking out a complaint of a loud party when 35-year-old Miguel Gomez threw a beer bottle at his car. McMennamy chased him down and hit him with a taser. The deputy said he was then surrounded.

McMennamy was punched above his right eye, hit with a beer bottle and even kicked in the jaw.

"While it was in progress, my worst fear was one of them having a weapon, a gun or a knife," he said.

Before they took his taser and bullets, McMennamy tried to radio for help, but it didn't get reception.

Amazingly, he used his cell phone to call while he fought away the attackers. The Lake County Sheriff's Office says their motivation was murder; they were trying to pull the gun from his holster.

"This is a bad situation that could have been worse," said Sgt. John Herrell, Lake County Sheriff's Office.

The 27-year-old deputy has been a member of the sheriff's office for two years. He said he'll be back to work on Wednesday.

"It won't be hard. I wouldn't trade this job for the world," he said.

Deputies are still looking for seven other men involved in the attack. Four of the five men they've caught are going to be deported since they were in the country illegally.

[Ducky]

The lot of them need cement shoes and a just-deep-enough muddy pond.

[Star Man]

Definetly a justified fear for his life and a good shoot. Should have put a few in the eternal dirt nap.

[Bob Loblaw]

^^^+1,000,000

On a side note, I guess this is why my agency's policy is that you don't use your taser unless you have lethal cover...you can only tase one offender at a time. Sounds to me like he would've needed at least 4 more tasers (and 3 more hands to use them). Speedy recovery, Dep. McMennamy.

[keith720]

Another good example of how a "routine" call can turn to crap. I know that I have to remind myself that no call is "routine." Good job, Deputy McMennay!

[10-42Adam]

Wow, happy to hear he is okay and they caught most of the scumbags involved.

[Willowdared]

Thank goodness he had cell service!


SDPD just had a noise complaint turn into shots fired, then a stand-off with an infant alone with the barricaded subject.

Be careful out there.