TAMPA, Fla. – A Hillsborough County inmate whose brutal assault on a deputy inside a jail on Tuesday was caught on camera will face further charges. The sheriff vowed the “violent” man would be “prosecuted to the fullest extent.”
Michler Gabriel, 38, was being escorted by a jail deputy at the Orient Road Jail in Tampa about 11:15 a.m. when he refused to back away from a jail pod door as it was being opened, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.
The sheriff’s office released the video on Wednesday. It shows the deputy trying to get Gabriel to step back from the door. As he halts Gabriel’s progress and points to where he should stand, the inmate violently punches the deputy in the face multiple times, knocking the him against a wall as his glasses went flying.
Hence, a second deputy is seen bolting through the door to assist restraining Gabriel. Moments later, several additional deputies arrived at the scene as Gabriel was restrained and taken away, Fox 13 reported.
The injured deputy suffered bruising, swelling and lacerations. He was treated at Tampa General Hospital, officials told FOX13 Tampa.
Sheriff Chad Chronister discussed dangers faced by deputies, even in a controlled environment.
“This is a prime example of the dangerous environment deputies willingly go into every day in order to keep violent people like Michler Gabriel off of our streets,” he said in a statement.
“I will not tolerate anyone who would have such a lack of respect for another human being, especially for someone who selflessly serves the citizens of Hillsborough County,” Chronister continued. “While I am thankful that the deputy involved was not seriously hurt, we will make sure that Gabriel is prosecuted to the fullest extent for his actions.”
The inmate was being held in jail on charges of driving with a suspended license, possession of a controlled substance, armed trafficking and felon in possession of a firearm.
Yet now he faces additional felony charges, which include battery on a law enforcement officer and battery by a detained person.
