December 3, 2020
On November 27, 2020 Deputy L. Prine responded to a home in Morriston after the homeowner called 911 to report an unidentified man was beating on his door screaming for help. Deputy Prine received additional information from LCSO dispatchers that this person was now trying to break the door and enter the home.
Deputy Prine arrived and was immediately confronted by this unknown person who was wearing only short pants. The unidentified male was begging for Deputy Prine’s help to remove his shorts because they were about to burst into flames. Deputy Prine was able to place hand restraints on the uncooperative person and get him into the back seat of his patrol car so he could begin his investigation.
Deputy Prine spoke to the homeowner. The homeowner told Deputy Prine he believed the subject he detained was Sylvester Carmauche. The homeowner knew Carmauche’s father. Deputy Prine concluded Carmauche would need to be medically evaluated based upon his bizarre behavior and he returned to his car.
Deputy Prine opened his rear door to seatbelt Carmauche. Carmauche attacked Deputy Prine and was able to free himself from the car. Carmauche fled and then dove through a closed window into an adjacent home. Deputy Prine could hear the homeowners screaming inside when he entered the home he observed Carmauche on the couch watching TV. Carmauche looked at Deputy Prine and said, “You need to help me, I’m going to burst into flames at any time.”
Deputy Prine ordered Carmauche to surrender but every command he gave was ignored. Carmauche then charged at Deputy Prine in a second attempt to flee and Deputy Prine was able to use his Taser to stop him. Carmauche went to the ground and as Deputy Prine attempted to gain control of him a struggle ensued.
Carmauche broke free from the Taser and grappled with Deputy Prine inside the home. During the struggle Carmauche was able to rip Deputy Prine’s radio from his side, grabbed his holstered firearm several times and attempted to gain control of the Taser Deputy Prine used. Deputy Prine was then struck twice in the head by Carmauche who grabbed a bicycle pump that was lying nearby. Deputy Prine was struck with such force that the pump frame was bent. Carmauche then attempted to choke Deputy Prine but the homeowner was able to shove Carmauche hard enough to knock him off of Deputy Prine’s back. Carmauche broke free from Deputy Prine’s grasp and fled the home.
Deputy Prine pursued Carmauche out of the home but lost sight of him in the darkness. A neighbor yelled to Deputy Prine that the suspect was across the street and was beating on another person’s door demanding to be let inside. Deputy Prine could hear back up units coming to his aid and when they arrived Carmauche was taken back into custody after a short struggle.
Carmauche continued to fight with deputies even when EMS arrived to evaluate and render aid to him. Carmauche was ultimately transported to a local hospital for treatment and evaluation. Deputy Prine sustained minor injuries during the struggle and was treated and released from a local hospital.
On December 1, 2020 a warrant was issued for the arrest of Sylvester Carmauche (1/24/83) for aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, depriving a law enforcement officer of a communication device, resisting arrest with violence, three counts of battery on a law enforcement officer, burglary and criminal mischief. Carmauche has a lengthy violent criminal history spanning several states.
Carmauche was arrested in Marion County by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office; the Levy County Sheriff’s Office and was assisted by the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force on December 2, 2020. He is being held in the Marion County Jail awaiting transport to the Levy County Detention Facility. His bond has been set at $215,000.00.