News

Actions

Two men facing charges for attack on FWC officer

FWC officer beat up on Wacissa river
Posted
and last updated

UPDATE (April 22, 2013 - 3:12 P.M.)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) -- Two men wanted in connection with an attack on a Florida Fish and Wildlife officer have now turned themselves in.

Jefferson County Sheriff David Hobbs says Israel Thomas turned himself in Friday evening. He's charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer.

Katie Parcell with Florida Fish and Wildlife says Officer Stephanie Wilcox was on patrol in the Wacissa River area in Jefferson County when she saw two men inside of an aluminum boat. Parcell says Officer Wilcox went to perform a routine check and found the boating license was expired.

During her contact with the two men, Thomas allegedly attacked Officer Wilcox, punching her, then taking off.

A second unnamed man is also facing charges for fleeing the scene but is not believed by investigators to have actually taken part in the attack.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL)--The search is on for two men linked to the beating of an officer in Jefferson county.

Florida Fish and Wildlife commission officials say the officer is recovering after one of the men punched her before taking off.

Along the Wacissa river its normally quiet where people come to canoe and get a breath of fresh air.

"Peaceful and quiet, pretty much everybody knows everybody," said Patt Rebb.

But that peace was disturbed Wednesday afternoon when Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission officials say one of their officers was assaulted on the boat ramp of the river

officials say officer Stephanie Wilcox saw two men inside of an aluminum boat and performed a routine check and found that the boating license was expired.

They say Wilcox asked for the men information. She then found there was a warrant for Isreal Thomas's arrest

Officers say-- he then resisted arrest.

Florida Fish and Wildlife officials say the suspect punched the officer in the head, left her on the ground and took off to his car.

"She took a hard punch to the head but she tried to got back up and tried to go after them," said Katie Parcell.

But, the two got away.

"Sometimes there are people who are out there who unfortunately want to do harm and hurt officers so they really just have to be aware at all times," said Parcell.

FWC's Katie Parcell says they're searching none stop to find the men, which frequent visitors of the river like Patt Rebb says makes them feel safe.

"We just trust in our officers to make sure everything is safe and everything is taken care of when its reported it," said Rebb.

The FWC spokesman says officer Wilcox is ready to get back to work.

FWC officials say if you have any information on the wherabouts on either of the two men linked to this crime. you're urged to contact local law enforcement.