On June 1, 2023, at approximately 3:55pm, deputies responded to a crash at the RaceTrac gas station on SR100 East. Upon arrival, deputies located a Ford Ranger that had crashed into a fire hydrant, causing a large flow of water into the nearby swale.
Deputies made contact with a male standing near the truck, later identified as Frank Clement Jr., who appeared intoxicated and stated that he had been drinking. While investigating the crash, Clement Jr. advanced toward the deputy in a threatening manner. While attempting to place Clement Jr. under arrest, Clement Jr. battered the deputy by forcefully grabbing him. A witness stated that it appeared Clement Jr. was reaching for the deputy’s firearm. Deputies were eventually able to secure Clement Jr. in handcuffs.
Clement Jr. was treated for injuries at AdventHealth-Palm Coast and later released. Clement Jr. was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and charged with Driving Under the Influence with Property Damage/Personal Injury, Aggravated Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Resisting an Officer with Violence, and Reckless Driving.
“Getting drunk, driving a vehicle, and crashing is bad enough but then attacking a Deputy Sheriff will only land you in jail with even more charges, including felony charges,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Being drunk makes you do stupid things. This time he gets to sit in jail and think about his actions. Fortunately, our deputy was not seriously hurt defending himself from his attacker.”
Body cam video of the arrest: https://youtu.be/xF3s4xQD6x4
