Man Braves Bullets to Save Florida Cop Under Fire

A 47-year-old boat worker from Miami is being called a hero after he stepped in to save a police officer under fire from a spray of bullets Tuesday.

William Ramirez was on his way to work when he came across the scene that prompted his life-saving actions, the Miami Herald reported.

Rookie Miami Police Officer Rosny Obas was driving along Northwest 79th Street around 8:36 a.m. when he pulled in behind a taxi cab and attempted to pull it over, the police department reported in a media release. The cab’s driver stopped, but not to comply with the officer. Instead, he got out his vehicle, armed with a high-powered rifle and opened fire on the officer.

Ramirez watched as the scene unfolded and then took action.

He drove his van right in between the officer and shooter, effectively shielding Obas from bullets. He then opened up his side door and pulled the officer to safety, the Herald reported. Ramirez then sped off.

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The taxi cab driver, the police department said in its media release, then hopped into Obas’ marked patrol car and opened fire again out of the window, hitting a bystander. He then took off in the cruiser, fire shots again, striking another bystander. An off duty officer caught up with him a short time later. The cabbie was shot by the officer, suffering non-life-threatening injuries.

The bystanders struck are both expected to recover. Obas was uninjured thanks to Ramirez’s quick thinking.

When asked what motivated him to act, Ramirez told CBS, “I helped him because I thought they were firing at him and how was I not to help him, he’s a cop.”

The city of Miami plans to honor Ramirez at its next commission meeting, the Herald noted. Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado even called the boat worker to thank him for his bravery.

As for the cabbie, 28-year-old Frantzy Armand faces a number of criminal charges, including attempted first degree murder on a law enforcement officer, jail records indicate. He was being held without bond in the Miami-Dade County Jail Friday.

Tuesday’s act of heroism came amid a backdrop of tension between police officers and residents across the country. Unrest sparked by the shooting deaths of unarmed men in Missouri and South Carolina and a number of other high-profile, racially charged cases have prompted protests, some violent, in cities including Miami and Tampa.

Anti-law enforcement sentiment, however, doesn’t seem to be felt by Ramirez.

“The police work to protect us,” he told the Herald. “We have to help them.”

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