An Orlando man who posted threats on Facebook ripped off his clothes and attacked police officers late Thursday in a battle that involved stun-gun blasts, pepper spray and eye gouging, police said.
Joshua Patrick Hilt, 42, was hospitalized, arrested and will likely undergo a mental-health evaluation after allegedly leaving several officers with injuries in the bizarre attack outside Hilt's home at about 11:30 p.m.
"This case involves a suspect with possible mental illness in conjunction with criminal actions, which as most of you are aware can be one of the most dangerous situations for officers," Sgt. Jim Young said in an email.
Two officers went to Hilt's home in the 200 block of Phillips Street for a well-being check after he made threats on Facebook about killing himself and law-enforcement officers, a police report said.
Hilt flew into a rage and ripped off his clothes when one officer told him they were going to determine if he needed to see a doctor at a mental-health facility, a report said.
He was arrested after getting naked. Hilt grabbed the arresting officer, who tackled him and took him to the ground. That's when Hilt grabbed the officer's face and attempted to put his thumb in the officer's right eye.
The officer then punched Hilt in the face and called for backup. They traded face punches and rolled on the ground until a second officer jumped on Hilt's legs and tased him.
Hilt yelled, grabbed the taser and used it on the first officer, the report said. The second officer pulled the stungun away from Hilt but was tased in the process.
The second officer used pepper spray on Hilt's face but it had no impact, so he pulled out his baton and struck Hilt in the legs and arms.
Hilt broke the second officer's radio and tried to take his baton. Then the second officer cuffed Hilt's left hand.
That's when two other officers arrived. One tased Hilt. The other hit Hilt "in the leg with a knee strike," a report said.
A fifth officer arrived and all five held Hilt down as he was handcuffed.
Orlando firefighters treated two officers and Hilt on the scene.
A sergeant drove two officers to Florida South Hospital, where one officer was treated for injuries to his head and arm and another was treated for injuries to his right arm.
Hilt was treated for minor injuries at Florida South Hospital before he was booked into the Orange County Jail.
He was charged with indecent exposure and exposure of sexual organs for taking off his clothes in front of his neighbors, police said.
Hilt also faces three charges of depriving an officer's "means of communication/protection" for taking an officer's taser, radio and for grabbing his baton.
He faces five counts of aggravated battery on a law-enforcement officer and other charges.
The police report said officers had responded to Hilt's home in the past but didn't meet the standards for being involuntarily committed at that time.
The report also said his neighbors were so concerned about his "mental status and potential violence" that they were planning to move. They also expressed relief after he was taken into custody.
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