Man Arrested for Battery on Law Enforcement During Water Rescue

On July 3, deputies arrested Ryan McMinn, 47, of Palm Coast, after he battered deputies who were pulling him from a snake-and-alligator-infested canal where he had once again fled. A deputy located McMinn — who had originally been the subject of a welfare check previously — after he was found lying on the ground shirtless in front of Wadsworth Elementary School. The deputy attempted to check on McMinn, who fled on foot. A few minutes later, the Flagler County Emergency Communications Center received a call from a resident on Whittle Place in Palm Coast, reporting a man was crawling around in their backyard and trying to climb the side of their house. Deputies located McMinn near the canal behind the residence and asked him if he was ok or needed assistance. Upon spotting deputies, McMinn ran into the canal and began swimming. Deputies ordered McMinn to exit the water multiple times, but he refused. As McMinn began treading water, deputies observed him begin to show signs of exhaustion. Due to his exhausted state and refusal to exit, two deputies entered the water to pull McMinn out of the canal. When deputies reached McMinn, he began pushing and pulling in attempts to get away. During his attempts to resist deputies, McMinn tried to grab a deputy’s head to push it under the water, then tried to grab the neck of the other deputy. Deputies were able to gain control of McMinn’s arms and pull him safely to shore. He was treated by Flagler County Fire Rescue and ultimately transported to AdventHealth Palm Coast, where he was treated and medically cleared. Deputies arrested McMinn for two counts of battery on a law enforcement officer. He was transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where he is being held on a $5,000 bond. “Battering a Deputy Sheriff will guarantee you the loss of your freedom and a trip to jail,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “These deputies went into the water to rescue this guy, and he responded by fighting them. I commend our deputies for their willingness to get in a canal that usually have snakes and gators and pull this guy to safety before he drowned.” ABOUT FCSO The Flagler County Sheriff's Office is under the direction of Sheriff Rick Staly. Serving the citizens of Flagler County, FL since 1917. Follow us on social media! • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flaglersheriff/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flaglersher... • Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlaglerSheriff