Bradenton Officer Shot Man Who Drove At Him: Police

BRADENTON, FL — A 41-year-old man faces several charges after driving at a Bradenton police officer outside Blue Boy Motel in Bradenton Thursday morning.

Charles William Mickel III has been charged with aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a motor vehicle and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, Bradenton police said in a news release.

Police were called to the motel just after 10 a.m. Thursday for a trespass complaint. The victim told the responding officer that Mickel pulled a knife on him. After disarming Mickel, the officer interviewed witnesses as back-up officers arrived at the motel.

At this point, Mickel got into his vehicle and attempted to drive away, police said. He reversed the vehicle, nearly hitting a back-up officer, and then drove forward directly at the first responding officer, who was hit and thrown onto the vehicle.

While on the vehicle's hood, the officer shot through the windshield, hitting Mickel, police said. The officer was thrown from the vehicle as Mickel drove away.

About one minute later, he drove back to the motel, though, police said. He surrendered when police approached him, and he was taken into custody.

Officers performed life-saving techniques on Mickel until paramedics arrived and brought him to Blake Trauma Center for treatment of gunshot wounds, police said.

Mickel previously served a 15-year sentence for robbery and fleeing to elude law enforcement, police said. He was released from the Florida Department of Corrections Feb. 27.

The officer involved was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries sustained during the incident and has been placed on an administrative assignment. His name hasn’t been released, citing Marsy’s Law, which protects victims of crimes, police said.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the incident, which is the protocol for officer-involved shootings in Bradenton, police said.