ECSO: Cantonment Man Punched Deputy, Threatened To Shoot Other Deputies

September 24, 2018

A Cantonment man injured an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy during a fight and threatened to shoot deputies during an incident early Sunday morning.

Vincent Jerome Clay, 49, was charged with felony battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence and threats to a law enforcement officer. He was released from the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $12,000.

Deputies responded to a disturbance on Calloway Street after Clay threatened to murder a woman that might live with his father because she threatened him and was posting about him on Facebook, according to an arrest report.

While the first deputy on scene was talking to a witness, Clay called 911 and asked for a supervisor and told the dispatcher that he was going to shoot at deputies. When the deputy approached Clay in his yard, he pulled away and refused verbal commands.

The deputy attempted to grab his arm, Clay quickly turned abound and punch the deputy in the right eye and then twice more in the face, according to the ECSO. Clay and the deputy went to the ground fighting each other. The deputy was able to get one top of Clay and place a taser to his neck.

Clay continued and “resisted all efforts to be handcuffed”, the report states. Additional deputies arrived on scene and placed him under arrest.

The deputy treated on scene by Escambia County EMS and transported by a supervisor to Sacred Heart Hospital with a swollen eye and concern over possible head trauma.

Comments

12 Responses to “ECSO: Cantonment Man Punched Deputy, Threatened To Shoot Other Deputies”

  1. David Huie Green on September 27th, 2018 10:31 pm

    This cost him $1200 he will never see again.

    Many a crime would never occur if potential perpetrators knew for sure they would gain nothing and it would cost them just $1,000 every time.

    Of course, that is not the case, though.

    David for better odds

  2. Stumpknocker on September 25th, 2018 12:54 pm

    @Bewildered, you are absolutely correct, don’t know if we can turn it around or not. It would be nice if we could meet a protest with a protest, OH but wait we have to work for a living and not off the backs of others or live with our mommies and daddies. They need to keep their fingers crossed that we stay employed or the benefits stop.

  3. Xpeecee on September 25th, 2018 10:03 am

    @ Stumpknocker – Amen, Brother!!! :(

  4. Bewildered on September 25th, 2018 5:17 am

    Bond is strictly business – our justice system is designed to make sure the majority of people come up with the money to pay it.. Had the deputy punched him in the eye and face protesters (both paid and unpaid) would be lining our streets demanding justice for this poor abused black man. This mindset of “it pays playing the eternal victim” has been systematically been programmed into young people by our education system. It’s far too late to turn this ship around – we will see in another 20 years if we chose a desirable destination.

  5. Stumpknocker on September 24th, 2018 9:46 pm

    @DLow yes the bond is an attempt to make sure the suspect appears for court, but it’s also used to insure the safety of others, higher bond will keep them detained longer. And he has clearly demonstrated violence towards others.

    The article should read, cantonment man life flighted to area hospital clinging on to life after putting his hands on a deputy, period. No bond needed at this time. I encourage everyone to go ride with your local agency and get a first hand look for yourself. And if you should happen to witness a crime follow it to the end go to court and watch and see the outcome. I think you’d be surprised at what you learn.

  6. nod on September 24th, 2018 9:08 pm

    I agree that the bail is way too low. it sounds like several people could have died or been seriously injured. let the bail fit the crime first and income second.

  7. Charlie on September 24th, 2018 7:39 pm

    @DLo—Of course it is not a fine, & that is not what they are saying. What they are saying is that the bond should be in line with what the “alleged” degree of committed crime is. The worse & more violent the “alleged” crime, the higher amount the bail bond should be, as that to me (& others) would be only common sense. The amount of bond whether high or low as proven in the past, does not always guarantee someone will show up in court. A very high bond though, just might keep a violent person off the streets until court date.

  8. DLo on September 24th, 2018 2:49 pm

    Every time someone makes bail, the chorus starts about bond is too low, BOND IS NOT PUNITIVE, IT IS NOT A FINE FOR COMMITTING A CRIME, IT IS THERE TO ENSURE THE ACCUSED SHOWS FOR COURT.

  9. Scuba Steve on September 24th, 2018 1:09 pm

    The Deputies have a bond chart that is provided from the Court. It recommends high and low bonds for charges. Hands are tied.

  10. just sayin on September 24th, 2018 12:18 pm

    why was his bond so low if this had gone the other was protest on top of protest these officers are over worked stressed under payed i’am not saying all law enforcements is right in their actions but the good out weight the bad just saying

  11. Wow on September 24th, 2018 11:26 am

    Really he does that to a deputy and he’s released on $12,000 bond does anybody else see anything wrong with that

  12. paul on September 24th, 2018 11:18 am

    I’m surprised he’s alive still..