A man in Florida captured the moment he randomly attacked two Orlando police officers with a brick while livestreaming it to social media; it is the city’s second unprovoked attack on law enforcement in a week.
Authorities said the man, William D. McClish, 27, has an extensive criminal history.
The attack happened shortly before 1 a.m., when McClish charged at officers from behind a car wielding a brick, striking one officer in the face and attacking the other while broadcasting live to Facebook.
Orlando police said both officers were injured but are expected to recover. The first officer was injured in the face, while the other was bit and nearly had his eye gouged out after intervening.
“These unprovoked actions should be a concern for all of our communities,” Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolón said in a statement.
The police chief remarked in a Twitter post that this attack was the second random assault on police officers in the same week – the first involving a shooting at officers in their car.
Orlando Police Union President Adam Krudo described the injuries to Fox35 Orlando.
“The one hit by the brick suffered a broken nose,” Krudo said. “The other officer nearly had his left eye gouged out and had his biceps and some fingers bitten.”
Rolón urged the community to hold such offenders accountable.
“Individuals like this do not belong in our society,” he said. “Prosecutors and our judicial system must hold them accountable to protect our society and the men and women protecting our communities. We cannot wait for an officer or a citizen to be murdered.”
McClish faces multiple charges, such as attempted murder and aggravated battery. He is being held at the Orange County Jail without bond.