CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — The woman hospitalized after being accused of shooting at Clay County deputies in a cemetery Tuesday afternoon following a police chase, is facing attempted murder charges Wednesday, according to the Clay County Sheriff's Office.
Tammy Saucier, 51, is charged with five counts of felony second-degree attempted murder on a law enforcement officer, according to jail records. Saucier did not make her first court appearance Wednesday morning, as she is still in the hospital, recovering from injuries suffered in the deputy-involved shooting.
Saucier was recently suspended from her job as a bookkeeper for Doctors Inlet Elementary in Middleburg, according to her arrest report. However, the report does not detail why or when Saucier was suspended.
Clay County District Schools released the following statement when First Coast News asked about Saucier's job within the school district Wednesday:
“Clay County District Schools is committed to fiscal transparency, and earlier in the month, our internal auditor and Clay County District Schools Police Department launched an investigation into allegations regarding an employee’s improper use of school funds. The District took immediate action, and suspended the employee while the investigation is underway. We will continue to partner with all agencies involved and follow the District's policies and procedures. The District will not comment further to ensure no disruption in the investigation.”
On Tuesday, Sheriff Michelle Cook said around 10:40 a.m., deputies were notified of Saucier, believed to be suffering from a "mental health crisis." Deputies found Saucier's vehicle information via the Clay County license plate reader system, and discovered that she was traveling from the Oakleaf area toward Middleburg.
Cook said a sergeant located Saucier's vehicle and reported that she started to drive recklessly, veering into oncoming traffic and ran a red light.
After a pursuit, Saucier pulled over inside of Holly Hill Cemetery, located at 3601 Old Jennings Rd. in Middleburg. The arrest report states that "it was later learned that the defendant's [Saucier's] father was buried nearby.
Cook said the sergeant attempted to de-escalate the situation by talking with Saucier.
At least two other deputies in the area also responded to assist the sergeant, according to the sheriff. Cook said Saucier is a family friend of one of the deputies who responded.
At some point, Saucier told deputies she had a gun, Cook told First Coast News. The sheriff said she also drunk from a bottle of alcohol she had in her vehicle.
Saucier fired one shot inside her vehicle and then another shot in the direction of deputies standing behind her, according to the arrest report.
At least three deputies returned gunfire, Cook said, striking Saucier's vehicle and one bullet hit her pinky finger, the report states. It is unclear how many shots were fired by deputies.
Saucier's injuries are non-life-threatening, according to police, as the report states that she had to undergo surgery to have her spleen removed. Cook said no deputies were injured.
The deputies called for more assistance from negotiators and SWAT while continuing efforts to de-escalate the situation. The deputy who knew Saucier, asked her what could get her to surrender, Cook told First Coast News. Saucier responded saying she wanted a pack of cigarettes, Cook said.
"Using a shield, a ballistic shield, they approached her vehicle and dropped off a pack of cigarettes," Cook said in Tuesday's news conference following the shooting.
Cook said as Saucier got out of the vehicle to get the cigarettes, deputies used a non-lethal bean bag round to immobilize her. Saucier was then tackled and taken into custody. Clay County Fire Rescue was already at the scene and took her to HCA Orange Park Hospital.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Attorney's Office were called as a result of the shooting.
At the time of this incident, Tynes Elementary School went on lockdown out of "an abundance of caution." The cemetery is a half mile away from the school.