He was warned, "Don't run. Running's not going to help." All right. But seconds later, he made a split-second decision that changed everything. He pulled a knife, struck the deputy, then took off running into the woods. What happens next? No one expected. Hey, stop. Stop. Stop it. But before we get to that moment, let me take you back because how we got here is just as important as how it ended. Shortly after 12:40 p.m., Hillsboro County Sheriff's Office deputies joined clinicians from Grace Point to conduct an involuntary mental health evaluation, a Baker Acted mission designed to protect a person in crisis. Family members say 21-year-old Nicholas Ferguson was initially cooperative, speaking with medical staff for almost an hour. But at 1:52 p.m., when he learned he would be transported for treatment, he bolted from the home and vanished into the dense nature trails behind the subdivision. Deputy Charles Williams sprinted after him on foot while Deputy Nicholas Cruz shadowed the chase in a marked cruiser. Williams caught up and tried a textbook approach. Calm voice, open palms, soft commands, deescalation 101. He gently secured Ferguson's right arm. That's when the unexpected happened. Without warning, Ferguson produced a concealed knife. He reached over his shoulder with his left hand and injured the deputy in the neck area. Are you scared? Yeah. Hey, look. Running's not going to help. All right. one. I run a lot. Okay. On the side trail. I'm here with him. Hold on. Look. We're going to walk back. Okay. Okay. Now, the thing of it is you're still not in trouble, but obviously I can't trust you not to run anywhere. All right. So, come on. Come on. I'm going to put you in handcuffs for now. Okay. Okay. Though the cut missed major vessels, the danger was real and immediate. Instead of reaching for deadly force, the wounded Deputy Williams stayed composed, radioed for aid, and pursued the suspect another 100 yards. He shot me. He's got a knife. Hey, stop. Stop. Stop it. Stop. Stop right now. I got my gun point. Stop right now. Stop, Nick. Stop. Stop right now. Put it down. Drop the knife. Throw it to the side. Put your hands behind your back. Put it behind your back right now. Put your hand behind you. [Music] With his collar visibly stained, he managed to fire his taser, bringing Ferguson to the ground. Moments later, Deputy Cruz arrived and together they restrained the stunned suspect. Julia 33. Am I waiting? Huh? Am I bleeding? I don't know. Yeah. You got you okay? Uh, I don't know. What happened? Rein Julia 33 uh got stabbed in the neck. Get EMS rolling this way. Send to him here. I got a quick here. Here. As medics rushed in, fellow deputies applied quick clot gauze to the wound, a critical tool proven in combat settings to stop heavy bleeding within seconds. Within 40 minutes, Williams was being prepped for surgery. And remarkably, he was able to walk out of the hospital in under 24 hours. Sheriff Chad Kronister praised the deputy's restraint, noting that less lethal tactics after being attacked demonstrate extraordinary professionalism. After undergoing evaluation at the hospital, Ferguson was charged with attempted felony assault of a law enforcement officer along with both violent and nonviolent resistance charges as he was remanded in custody at Falenberg Road Jail without bond. A prior 2019 arrest for battery and aggravated assault now raises deeper concerns about how mental health histories are considered in public safety policies. Calls like this one happen daily across America. Deputies often step in because mental health teams lack legal authority or personal safety guarantees to detain someone alone. Critics argue that pairing clinicians with specially trained crisis intervention deputies could reduce violent outcomes. Supporters counter that without a deputy present, clinicians might face even greater danger. Should armed law enforcement officers remain the default first responders for mental health crisis? Or is it time to fund dedicated crisis response units that leave guns and perhaps danger at the curb? Let us know where you stand. Deputy Williams, a three-year veteran, says he's eager to return to duty once cleared. Hey everybody, this is Deputy Williams. Hey, I just want to say thank you for all the support that everybody's given me, whether it be law enforcement or the community. and I'm doing great. I'm back at work. I'm glad to be able to come back to work. So, thank you again. Sheriff Kronister's office confirms he'll receive counseling and additional support, standard protocol after traumatic events. Community members have already begun sending thank you cards to HCSO headquarters, praising the deputies courage and reminding us that most policing successes never make headlines precisely because tragedies are averted. This incident ends with one deputy recovering, one suspect in custody, and a community debating what protect and serve should look like in 2025 and beyond. Within minutes, an everyday mental health welfare check had spiraled into a near fatal encounter, reminding citizens and deputies alike how fast calm can turn to chaos on Florida's front lines. If you were writing the policy manual, what changes, if any, would you make to keep both officers and civilians safer? Drop your thoughts below, and be sure to subscribe for more in-depth reports that go beyond the headline. Okay. All right. Hey, pressure. That's good. Stay with him. No, I got you. Stay with him. I'm good. We're going to have a officer wounded.