- October 11, 2024
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Update, Aug. 25, 2023: Frank Clement Jr. pleaded no contest to three charges — aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, and DUI second offense — and was adjudicated guilty. Judge Terence Perkins sentenced him to 180 days in the county jail, with credit for 76 days already served, according to court records.
ORIGINAL STORY:
A drunk 52-year-old Palm Coast man crashed into a fire hydrant June 1 then attacked a deputy by grabbing and squeezing the male deputy's genitals, according to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies had responded to the crash scene at a RaceTrac gas station at the intersection of State Road 100 and Old Kings Road at about 3:55 p.m. after a bystander reported the crash.
The bystander found the suspect, Frank Clement Jr., slumped in the driver's seat of a Ford Ranger and helped him out of the truck, according to Clement's arrest report.
The bystander later told deputies that Clement had begged him not to call 911, then approached the bystander "in a way to make [the bystander] back away," according to the report.
When deputies arrived, water was pouring from the hydrant into a swale, and Clement's dog was running around near the crash scene, an arriving deputy's body camera footage shows. (View the video HERE. Warning: video includes profanity.)
The deputy asked Clement what was going on, and Clement said, "I've been drinking," according the report.
The deputy told Clement to lean against his truck, and Clement did so, but then started walking toward the deputy.
When the deputy told Clement to step back, Clement replied, "F--- that," and approached the deputy with a clenched fist.
The deputy put a hand on Clement's chest to get him to back up, but Clement swung at the deputy, saying "Put your hand off me," then swearing at the deputy as the deputy tried to restrain him, the video shows.
As the deputy tried to radio for other deputies, Clement grabbed the deputy's groin and twisted, according to his arrest report. The deputy punched Clement in the face several times until Clement fell to the ground, yelling, "I'm sorry, man."
Other deputies arrived and helped handcuff Clement.
A witness later said that it looked like Clement had been reaching for the deputy's gun during the fight, according to the news release.
Clement was treated at AdventHealth Palm Coast then taken to the county jail.
He faces felony charges of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence as well as a misdemeanor charge of DUI with property damage.
“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,” Sheriff Rick Staly said, according to the news release. “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.”
