By Cristóbal Reyes
Orlando Sentinel
ORLANDO, Fla. — A man arrested in 2021 for attacking Orlando police officers with a brick while streaming it on social media was sentenced to life in prison, the Orange-Osceola State Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.
William McClish, 29, was convicted of attempted murder and aggravated battery on law enforcement among other charges after a two-day trial that wrapped up Tuesday. A month before trial, McClish was allowed to represent himself after he was declared competent to proceed, court filings show.
In September 2021, McClish readied his phone to livestream on Facebook his surprise attack on the officers, who were standing near the corner of North Magnolia Avenue and East Washington Street when he was captured on video striking one of them in the head with a brick, according to his arrest affidavit. During a struggle with the second officer and nearby witnesses, McClish gouged his eye and tried to take the first officer’s gun. Backup arrived shortly after and subdued him.
Police later found a video McClish recorded before the attack in which he said, “I’m gonna kill him on live.” At trial, his opening remarks were, “I didn’t do it and the evidence was tampered with,” said a State Attorney’s Office press release.
The jury returned a guilty verdict an hour after closing arguments.
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