JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A University of North Florida police officer is recovering after he was pistol-whipped by an attempted carjacker in Northwest Jacksonville.
Police were dispatched to Twice The Ice on Lem Turner Road and Caper at 8:49 p.m. Monday in reference to a person shot. Officers said UNF police officer Bill Strudel, who's a former Jacksonville Sheriff's officer, stopped to get a bag of ice when he was approached by a male juvenile who assaulted him.
Recommended Videos
"The suspect approached him and attempted to carjack the off-duty officer. The suspect subsequently struck the officer in the head with the firearm, causing a bleeding gash," said Chief Mike Bruno with JSO.
Officer Strudel retrieved his gun and shot the suspect in the buttocks, according to JSO.
The officer held the suspect at gunpoint until JSO arrived and he was taken into custody.
"We have retrieved the officer's firearm and suspect's firearm at the scene. There were several witnesses in the area and detectives are still interviewing them," said Chief Bruno.
The officer and suspect were transported to the hospital.
Police said several people were in the parking lot when this happened. One witness said the suspect told him he had a bb gun.
"I just kind of lost it. I was like, what are you doing man?" said the witness.
The witness was shocked at what happened.
"Not really thinking about what you're doing... sometimes you need to think before you act. If you're bored, go read a book," said the witness.
Police said they would continue to interview witnesses and see whether anyone else was involved.
Strudel is the Deputy Chief of the UNF Police Department. His bio on the UNF website said he joined UNF in 2005 after retiring from JSO as a police sergeant with 25 years of service.