By Rich Pollack
A violent struggle between Highland Beach police and a man with a machete who had just cut a valet outside the Toscana condominium ended without major injuries, despite a gun discharging when the attacker attempted to wrestle it from an officer’s holster.
The valet required several stitches to treat the cut on his lip.
According to court records, Phillip Demercado Jr., 33, was arrested Jan. 23 on several charges including aggravated battery and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, following a six-minute wrestling battle that included the Coconut Creek man being tasered several times.
Highland Beach Police Chief Craig Hartmann praised his officers for the way they handled the situation, which had the potential to have a much different ending.
“The quick response and actions of the officers kept anyone else from getting injured,” he said.
The struggle began shortly after 5:30 p.m. when police were called to Toscana by a security guard who told them that Demercado had cut the valet on the lip with the machete and that he was behind the concierge desk.
Hartmann said that Demercado had come to Toscana to drop off an employee.
As officers approached, Demercado charged forward while holding an unsheathed machete.
After being hit by the taser, Demercado dropped to the ground and the officer was able to kick the machete away. When police tried to subdue him, Demercado was able to unholster the officer’s gun and pulled the trigger, firing one round through the holster. The officer was able to regain control of his weapon.
An additional officer tried to subdue Demercado as he continued to attempt to pull a gun — this time from the second officer’s holster — before he was finally handcuffed.
“The taser was deployed multiple times by officers during the violent struggle but he continued to resist,” Detective Dwayne Fernandes wrote.
Hartmann said that injuries to the officers and to Demercado, if any, were minor.
Demercado was being held without bond in the Palm Beach County Jail.
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