On Monday, the Miami-Dade Police officers involved in the 2019 shootout with robbery suspects in Miramar, which resulted in the tragic deaths of a UPS driver and a bystander, were officially charged and arraigned.
Last month, Officers Rodolfo Mirabal, Jose Mateo, Richard Santiesteban, and Leslie Lee surrendered themselves to the authorities to face charges related to the December 5, 2019, shootout that resulted in the deaths of UPS driver Frank Ordonez and bystander Richard Cutshaw. The officers have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The judge scheduled an initial status hearing on November 6, 2024, followed by a second status hearing on January 15, 2025, during the court proceedings in Broward on Monday morning.
The court has scheduled the trial to take place on February 17, 2025.
In June, the unsealed indictment was filed against the four officers.
The shooting of Ordonez resulted in all four individuals facing charges of manslaughter with a firearm, while Mirabal alone is facing charges of manslaughter in relation to Cutshaw’s shooting.
According to the indictment, the shootings occurred due to “culpable negligence” and were carried out “without lawful justification and under circumstances that do not constitute excusable homicide.”
The President of the Miami-Dade Police Benevolent Association has responded to the recent news of four officers turning themselves in after being indicted in connection with a 2019 shootout, which resulted in the death of a UPS driver.
During the occurrence of an armed robbery and shootout at a jewelry shop in Coral Gables, Ordonez was on duty.
As they made their escape, the suspects took the victim hostage and fled in his truck, leading to a chase that eventually reached Broward County.
Officials reported that while the truck was stopped in traffic near Miramar Parkway and Flamingo Road, the suspects began firing on officers. This led to a shootout between the suspects and law enforcement.
The entire event was captured on video.
In the exchange of gunfire, the two suspects, along with 27-year-old Ordonez and 70-year-old Cutshaw, who was on his way back home from work, lost their lives.
According to NBC6, Steadman Stahl, President of the Miami-Dade Police Benevolent Association, expressed his disappointment with the indictment. He further stated that the PBA will offer legal assistance and support to the officers during the legal proceedings.
Stahl expressed concern that this would have a chilling effect and believes that police officers should not be held accountable for this.
The Broward State Attorney’s Office released a statement stating that the officers were indicted by a grand jury after months of evidence presented.
According to Broward State Attorney Harold Pryor, determining whether or not to use lethal force is one of the most significant and critical decisions a police officer can make. He stated in a release on Saturday that these judgments are frequently made in high-pressure and uncertain situations. Pryor added, “The officers involved in the shootings and their circumstances were subjected to an extensive investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. As a result of the vast amount of gunfire that took place at a highly congested intersection full of civilian motorists and pedestrians, we delivered the findings of these agencies to the grand jury.”
In a tragic event that took place over four years ago, a UPS driver named Frank Ordonez lost his life in a shootout between police and two armed suspects who hijacked a UPS truck. The incident left the family of Ordonez devastated and grieving. Recently, NBC6’s Kim Wynne had the opportunity to sit down with Ordonez’s family and hear their reaction to the tragic loss of their loved one.
After the indictments were revealed, Ordonez’s relatives expressed their feelings, stating that the time since his demise felt never-ending.
Joe Merino, Ordonez’s stepfather, expressed his sorrowful emotions, stating that it has been a prolonged period of four years filled with agony and waiting. He added that it has been more than four years of grieving, and they miss Ordonez dearly. Merino further emphasized that Ordonez’s absence is deeply felt by everyone who knew him.
Genevie Merino, sister of Ordonez, expressed her hope for justice, saying “I just hope that there’s justice. I really do.” She emphasized the need for closure and peace, adding “We all want closure and peace. We haven’t had that.”