Wife apologizes after combat veteran husband nearly chokes deputy to death
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The wife of a combat veteran has a heartfelt message for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, apologizing for her husband’s behavior.
She says what he did to a deputy is unacceptable.
“I’m sorry. I’m thankful for their help, and I’m really sorry this happened to him,” she said.
She knows her husband needs help and is begging for people to listen.
She says she feels horrible about what happened to Deputy Lance Feinman.
“I’m severely sorry,” she told WFLA. “I felt so bad when it happened. I saw his face when he came out. It hurts my heart. I not only put myself in his family’s shoes, but in his shoes. I know he’s hurting.”
The wife of combat veteran Randy Howard explained that she called 911 last weekend after she and her husband began arguing during what she describes as a dangerous PTSD flashback.
When help arrived, she says her husband, who is also the father of two boys, put the deputy in a choke hold, nearly killing him.
According to the arrest report, the veteran also broke the deputy’s nose.
Deputy Feinman used every bit of tactical training he could, including deploying his Taser. He admits that he felt himself losing consciousness.
Nothing seemed to work.
He had to fight his way out of a nearly fatal situation.
Sgt. Jason Goff, a 20-year veteran with the agency, told us there is no such thing as a routine call and that every moment of law enforcement training is crucial.
“He was immediately attacked, unprovoked,” said Sgt. Goff. “You never know what you’re going to walk into.”
As a Marine, Howard did three tours of duty in the most deadly areas of the Middle East, including Ramadi and Fallujah. When the combat veteran came home, his wife says he was never the same.
She just wants him to get help, she says.
With tears in her eyes, she told us, “I’m not leaving him. I’m going to be by his side. I told him I’ll be by his side. I told him, ‘I’m not leaving you, I’m not abandoning you.’”
The Marine is being held in the medical unit of the Hillsborough County Jail, facing charges of battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest.
Deputy Feinman has been with the agency since 2015.
The 30-year-old continues to recover at home.
