Case dismissed in opposition to Florida teen migrant accused of murder in police officer’s demise
The case has been dismissed in opposition to a teen migrant from Guatemala nearly a yr after he was arrested following the death of a Florida police officer, based on Jose Baez, the teenager’s lawyer.
Virgilio Aguilar Mendez, a 19-year-old migrant, was arrested in Could 2023 after Sgt. Michael Kunovich, an officer with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Workplace in St. Augustine, Florida, approached the teenager, based on Phillip Arroyo, one other lawyer for the teenager. Aguilar Mendez, who doesn’t communicate English, tried to stroll away from the officer, however a wrestle ensued, based on physique digital camera video and audio of the incident reviewed by ABC Information.
Aguilar Mendez was thrown on the bottom, put in a chokehold and tased on a number of events, based on the footage.
5 minutes after Aguilar Mendez was handcuffed and put into the patrol automotive, Kunovich suffered a coronary heart assault and died, based on Arroyo.
Kunovich died of pure causes after struggling cardiac dysrhythmia, based on an post-mortem report reviewed by ABC Information, which can have been a results of the extreme coronary heart illness, a previous coronary heart assault or coronary heart and lung deterioration resulting from smoking.
The teenager was charged with aggravated manslaughter on the identical day he was arrested, which was later decreased to aggravated murder of a police officer, which is punishable by life in jail.
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned in an announcement that the fees in opposition to Aguilar Mendez had been dismissed “primarily based on issues in regards to the mental capability of Vergilio Aguilar Mendez and the current ruling discovering him to be incompetent.”
Aguilar Mendez was not too long ago declared by the courtroom as being mentally incompetent to face trial resulting from his lack of information of the American felony justice system, Arroyo advised ABC Information.
Aguilar Mendez is from a small Indigenous group in Guatemala and primarily speaks the traditional indigenous language Mam, based on Arroyo.
MORE: New York City discovers migrants being housed illegally in furniture store
Although the state expenses had been dismissed, the sheriff’s workplace mentioned Aguilar Mendez will stay in federal custody pending deportation proceedings.
“There have been makes an attempt by some to painting Aguilar Mendez as a sufferer and vilify Sergeant Kunovich. I proceed to face behind Sergeant Kunovich’s actions on the evening of Could 19, 2023,” St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick mentioned in an announcement. “The hazard related to regulation enforcement is a threat we assume once we enter this occupation. Sergeant Kunovich died a hero defending the residents of St. Johns County and there’s nothing extra noble than that. Please proceed to carry our company and Sergeant Kunovich’s household in your ideas and prayers.”
Police have argued Aguilar Mendez “armed himself with a folding pocket knife, which he retrieved from his shorts pockets,” based on police data obtained by ABC Information.
Physique digital camera video reviewed by ABC Information doesn’t clearly present Aguilar Mendez allegedly grabbing the knife from his pocket, however officers may be heard telling him to drop the knife. The teenager may be heard telling officers he wants the knife to chop up watermelon.
ABC Information’ Sabina Ghebremedhin contributed to this report.
Case dismissed against Florida teen migrant accused of homicide in police officer’s death initially appeared on abcnews.go.com
