Home News 

Story

Five Arrested After Deputy Gets Attacked By Mob Of Men

Posted: 6:19 am EDT March 24, 2008Updated: 3:35 pm EDT March 24, 2008

Five men, including four illegal immigrants have been caught after cops say they attacked a Lake County deputy. It happened on Long Acres Road in Sorrento, just off State Road 46, Sunday night.


SLIDESHOW: Images From The Scene Of The Attack
RAW INTERVIEW: Deputy Describes Being Attacked Responding To Call

Lake County sheriff's deputies used their helicopter to search the area in an attempt to find the men who beat up Deputy Cliff McMennamy.

"You wouldn't think a noise complaint would generate something like that," the deputy told Eyewitness News in an interview over the phone Monday morning.

McMennamy said he was checking out a complaint of a loud party when 35-year-old Miguel Gomez threw a beer bottle at his car. McMennamy chased him down and hit him with a taser. The deputy said he was then surrounded.

McMennamy was punched above his right eye, hit with a beer bottle and even kicked in the jaw.

"While it was in progress, my worst fear was one of them having a weapon, a gun or a knife," he said.

Before they took his taser and bullets, McMennamy tried to radio for help, but it didn't get reception.

Amazingly, he used his cell phone to call while he fought away the attackers. The Lake County Sheriff's Office says their motivation was murder; they were trying to pull the gun from his holster.

"This is a bad situation that could have been worse," said Sgt. John Herrell, Lake County Sheriff's Office.

The 27-year-old deputy has been a member of the sheriff's office for two years. He said he'll be back to work on Wednesday.

"It won't be hard. I wouldn't trade this job for the world," he said.

Deputies are still looking for seven other men involved in the attack. Four of the five men they've caught are going to be deported since they were in the country illegally.

More Headlines

Make WFTV Your Power On

Did you ever turn your television off at night and notice the next morning that your set comes on to a different channel? You can set your cable box so that your TV comes on to the station you want. It's easy! Full Story ››
Step-By-Step Text Instructions


Click Picks
Video Clips
AP Photo/Peter Kramer
Heidi Klum and her post-baby body led the parade at the annual Victoria's Secret fashion show, which returned to New York with some fresh faces after four years on the road. View Images ››


Strange News Photos

From brilliant to bizarre, our 99-photo slideshow captures a variety of strange news. Photos are added often. Take A Look!

County-By-County News

Get Hyper-Local On WFTV.com

Visit our County-By-County section for the latest news headlines out of your county. » County-By-County

When you take videos or photos of Central Florida news or weather events, iWitness is your place to upload them. » iWitness

Visit your headquarters for county-by-county news and resources, and a place to share community videos and photos. » 9Central