Two Good Samaritans helped stop a man accused of attacking his wife on a Florida river before deputies arrived, authorities say.

Two boaters stepped into a dangerous domestic violence situation on Florida’s Santa Fe River after they allegedly saw a man repeatedly attacking his wife, then worked together to keep him from leaving before deputies arrived, according to footage and narration presented by the YouTube channel Arrest Cam Fish and Wildlife.

The incident happened on April 17, 2025, when Jason Wayne Hunter encountered a boat traveling with its bow raised unusually high. A frightened woman aboard asked him how to reach the boat ramp, and Hunter soon saw the man with her, later identified as 66-year-old Stanley Budziak, allegedly striking her.

Hunter confronted Budziak, while another boater identified as Sean joined the effort. As Hunter kept the suspect occupied, Sean cut the boat’s fuel line so it could not be used to escape, according to the channel’s account.

Their decision placed both men in a risky position, but they later said they were focused on preventing the woman from suffering any further harm.

Boaters Reportedly Saw the Woman Being Attacked

Arrest Cam Fish and Wildlife said Hunter first became concerned when the woman appeared visibly scared and asked for directions back to the boat ramp.

Shortly afterward, he allegedly saw Budziak hitting her. Hunter moved closer and challenged him, while Sean arrived to help control the situation.

Radio traffic included in the video indicated that several people in boats had gathered around the suspect and were trying to remove the woman from danger. Dispatchers told them to disengage because law enforcement was arriving, but callers said they believed the woman was still being attacked.

That created an uneasy gap between the first emergency call and the moment deputies could physically reach the scene. On a road, officers can often drive directly to a disturbance, but an incident on a river requires boats, dock access, and coordination with people already on the water.

Hunter and Sean apparently chose not to wait at a distance. Their actions show how quickly ordinary bystanders can become part of an emergency when there is no immediate barrier between them and someone who appears to be in danger.

Fuel Line Was Cut to Prevent an Escape

According to the channel’s narration, Sean cut the suspect boat’s fuel line while Hunter kept Budziak distracted.

The move prevented the boat from simply leaving the area before deputies arrived. Radio traffic also suggested that the boat was registered to the suspect and that the complainants had already disabled its fuel supply.

Cutting the line was a bold and unusual step because it changed the situation from observation to direct intervention. It also carried obvious risks, especially if the suspect had access to a weapon or tried to force his way past the other boaters.

One witness later told deputies that Budziak had pulled out an object during the confrontation, although the witness was unsure whether it was a knife or something else. The witness said he backed away at that point and later chose to pursue charges.

That uncertainty helps explain why Good Samaritan interventions can become dangerous so quickly. A person may begin by trying to protect someone else, then suddenly face an armed or physically aggressive suspect without the equipment or legal authority available to police.

Deputies Reached the Scene by Boat

Officers with the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 911 call and moved toward the dock, where an off-duty sheriff also brought a vessel over to assist.

The body-camera footage showed deputies boarding boats and heading toward the group on the river. When they reached the scene, officers immediately moved to separate the woman from Budziak.

One deputy called for someone to take hold of her while officers focused on the suspect. Another asked Budziak why police had been called and told him they had received a report that he had been beating his wife.

Budziak denied putting his hands on her, but a witness said the alleged attack had been recorded on video.

The footage then showed the encounter becoming physical as deputies attempted to restrain him. Officers grabbed his arms and legs while also trying to keep the boat balanced and prevent anyone from falling into the water.

That detail made the arrest more complicated than it might have been on land. Every movement affected the stability of the vessel, and deputies wearing heavy gear faced the added danger of being pulled into the river.

Arrest Became a Struggle on the Water

Budziak allegedly resisted as officers tried to handcuff and move him from the boat.

The video captured deputies warning him not to kick and telling him he was under arrest. At one point, officers discussed an additional assault charge after he allegedly tried to kick a deputy.

Budziak repeatedly threatened to sue the officers, demanded their names, shouted insults, and claimed he was disabled. Deputies told him he could walk peacefully or be dragged, but the footage showed them eventually having to carry and pull him toward a patrol vehicle.

One officer remained focused on keeping the boat steady while others controlled the suspect. Another later described the hesitation officers felt about jumping from one boat to another while wearing gear that could make swimming difficult.

The arrest footage is chaotic, but it also shows why water-based calls require more people than a similar arrest on solid ground. Officers were not only restraining a combative suspect; they were managing boats, current, balance, weapons, and the possibility of someone falling overboard.

Deputies Helped the Woman After the Arrest

After Budziak was restrained, deputies turned their attention to the woman.

Body-camera footage showed an officer supporting her as she struggled with what he described as an adrenaline dump. He told her to take her time, held her steady, and reassured her that Budziak was in handcuffs and could no longer hurt her.

The woman said she trusted the deputy as he helped her walk and sit near a vehicle until emergency medical workers could arrive.

That quieter part of the footage is important because it shows the physical collapse that can follow a frightening confrontation. A person may remain standing during the danger, only to feel weak, dizzy, or overwhelmed once the immediate threat has passed.

Deputies also collected witness information, asked who had been struck or kicked, requested the video of the alleged attack, and located the woman’s purse so they could confirm her identity.

Good Samaritans Said They Would Act Again

After the incident, Hunter and Sean spoke with a local news station in a clip included by Arrest Cam Fish and Wildlife.

One of the men described the size difference between the woman and Budziak, saying she may have weighed around 80 pounds while the suspect weighed more than 200. He accused Budziak of bringing heavy elbow strikes down on her head.

“I’d rather him try to do it on me than that poor lady,” he said.

The men said the alleged assault happened in the wrong place and around people who were not willing to ignore it. One explained that his priority was making sure the woman did not take another blow, even if that meant placing himself in the suspect’s path.

When asked about being called a hero, one of the boaters rejected the label and said he had simply been raised properly and came from a good family.

That response gives the rescue much of its force. The men did not describe their actions as something extraordinary, but confronting an allegedly violent person on an isolated river is far beyond what most witnesses would feel prepared to do.

Their intervention also appears to have bought deputies valuable time. By keeping the suspect occupied, disabling the boat, and staying near the woman, they reduced the chance that the situation would disappear farther down the river before officers arrived.

Suspect Faced Multiple Charges

Arrest Cam Fish and Wildlife reported that Budziak was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, simple battery related to domestic violence, simple assault on an officer, and resisting an officer with violence.

He also faced charges of battery on a detention facility employee involving bodily fluids, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, and criminal mischief involving at least $1,000 in property damage.

The channel said the criminal case remained ongoing at the time of the report, meaning the accusations had not yet been fully resolved in court.

The Santa Fe River encounter began with a frightened woman asking a stranger for directions, but it quickly turned into a larger rescue involving two boaters, multiple deputies, an off-duty sheriff, and several witnesses.

Authorities ultimately took Budziak into custody, while Hunter and Sean were thanked for helping keep the woman safe until law enforcement could reach her.