A 38-year-old Dunnellon man who is charged with attempted murder for ambushing and stabbing a Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputy allegedly told the law enforcement agent that he “should have killed” him while he was being detained.
On Wednesday, May 13, at around 5 p.m., MCSO Deputy Robert Fitch responded to the 11700 block of NW 10th Place in Dunnellon in reference to a suspicious person in the area, according to the sheriff’s office.
Upon arrival, Deputy Fitch exited his patrol vehicle and was immediately confronted by a male suspect wearing a green shirt, later identified as Heriberto Medina Marquez. While holding a knife in his right hand, Marquez reportedly lunged towards the deputy’s chest.
The initial contact caused Deputy Fitch to fall backward onto the ground. Marquez then allegedly climbed on top of the deputy and repeatedly stabbed him in the chest before fleeing into a nearby wooded area.
Deputy Fitch’s body camera footage captured the deputy standing up and loudly commanding Marquez to come out of the woods with his hands up. Just as a second deputy arrived on the scene, Marquez emerged from the woods and was ordered to lie on the ground.
Two knives, with blades measuring 90 to 100 millimeters in length, were reportedly spotted on the ground next to Marquez. According to the report, “fresh blood” was observed on one blade, and dried blood was found on Marquez’s lacerated left hand.
After being detained by the deputies, Marquez was placed in the back of a patrol vehicle. He then reportedly told Deputy Fitch, “I should have killed you, you know that, right.”
Marquez was placed under arrest and transported to the Marion County Jail, where he is currently being held without bond. He is facing charges of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, providing a false name to law enforcement, and resisting an officer without violence.
Deputy Fitch sustained minor injuries during the incident, and MCSO stated that his bulletproof vest saved his life.