LITHIA, Fla. — Hillsborough Sheriff's Deputy Charles Williams was presented with the tribute award from the Florida House of Representatives on Wednesday for exercising restraint during a call involving a mentally-ill man who stabbed him in the neck.

What You Need To Know

  • Deputy Charles Williams was assisting Gracepoint with an involuntary mental health evaluation

  • The man, Nicholas Fergason, ran from the home and Williams pursued

  • Body camera video shows Williams stabbed during the encounter

"We respectfully proclaim that Deputy Charles Williams is commended for his courage and devotion to duty," said State Rep. Mike Beltran, R-Lithia. "While serving and protecting the community." ​

The incident happened on October 11, when deputies responded to a home in the Fishhawk Ranch neighborhood in Lithia to assist Gracepoint with an involuntary mental health evaluation. 

Upon learning that he would be admitted to Gracepoint under Florida's Baker Act, Nicholas Fergason, 21, ran from the home into a heavily wooded area, according to the Sheriff's Office. Body camera video shows the moment Williams catches up with Fergason. 

"Why are you running, dude?" Williams asked. "Are you scared?"

Fergason responded "Yeah." ​

Williams then used de-escalation techniques before Fergason stabbed him in the neck.

"You're still not in trouble but obviously I can't trust you not to run anywhere, alright?" he said. "So, come on, come on. I'm going to put you in handcuffs for now."

Fergason responded, "OK," before quickly turning and stabbing the deputy, who screamed.

"Hey," said Williams. "He's got a knife."

Williams chased Fergason for another 100 yards before using the stun gun on him. Williams told Spectrum Bay News 9 in an exclusive interview that at first he didn't even realize he had been stabbed in the neck.

"I thought that maybe he had punched me or something like that," he said. "I don't remember it hurting until a little later on."​

On the body camera video, you can hear Williams ask another deputy about his wound.

"Am I bleeding?" he said.

 "Yeah, he got you," said Deputy Nicholas Cruz. "Are you OK?" 

"I don't know," said Williams.

Deputy Williams said he has since recovered from his injury and appreciates being honored for exercising restraint and deploying less-than-lethal force on a man who tried to take his life.

"It's an honor. I didn't know it was going to happen," he said. "I didn't necessarily expect it." 

Fergason was charged with attempted felony murder of a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest.