FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - President Steadman Stahl of the South Florida Police Benevolent Association heavily criticized Broward County prosecutors on Monday after they made the decision to bring charges against four Miami-Dade County police officers. The charges are related to a tragic 2019 gun battle with armed assailants that left two civilians- a UPS driver and a bystander- dead.
Stahl stated that the officers had no choice but to return fire against the assailants after they started shooting in a busy street.
As reported by the Associated Press, Stahl warned that in charging the officers, the Broward State Attorney is creating a scenario that "could have a chilling effect" on how police respond in situations where hostages and innocent civilians are nearby, creating indecision on whether or not they should fire at violent assailants.
Officers Leslie Lee, Jose Mateo, Rodolfo Mirabel, and Richard Santiesteban were indicted by a Grand Jury in June on charges of manslaughter in the deaths of UPS driver Frank Ordonez, 27. Mirabal has been charged individually in connection to the death of bystander Richard Cushaw, 70. The indictments followed a four-year investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Stahl explained, "Those officers didn’t pick that location to have that shootout in. It’s the bad guys. Unfortunately, two (innocent) people lost their lives out there. Our hearts go out to them. Nobody wanted that to happen.”
He told reporters that the ultimate blame for the deaths of Ordonez and Cushaw needs to be laid upon the criminals Lamar Alexander and Ronnie Jerome Hill, cousins who are both 41 years old, who were killed in the shootout.
Speaking with Local10, Stahl said, “These officers had seconds, minutes to make decisions. Our hearts go out to the families and the innocent people who lost their lives, but the anger should be aimed at the two individuals that went into a jewelry store with guns blazing.”
The local outlet explained that on December 5, 2019, two armed assailants, Alexander and Hill, robbed a jewelry store before hijacking a UPS truck with driver Frank Ordonez inside and leading the police on a 25-mile chase. Ultimately the pursuit would cover two counties with over two dozen police officers from several agencies opening fire on the truck at a busy intersection.
Officers from Miami-Dade County, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, and the Florida Highway Patrol took part in the crossfire, with preliminary findings from the state investigation showing over 200 rounds struck the vehicle. Both suspects, as well as Ordonez and Cutshaw, were killed.
In a statement, the Florida PBA said, “We’re extremely disappointed that after almost five years, these officers are finding themselves indicted for something they had seconds to decide. The Broward State Attorney’s office is prosecuting officers for responding to armed subjects, where they just got done prosecuting an officer for not responding in Parkland.”
A defense attorney representing one of the officers David Braun told Local10, “As we’ve seen recently, prosecutors have tremendous power and sometimes that power is prioritized over people. As a resident of our County, I’m concerned the people that protect us are being told that if they do not shoot back at a shooter, they will be prosecuted; Now this case says to those same people if you shoot back at the shooter you will also be prosecuted, Seems like a tough time to be a police officer."
The four officers are expected to surrender themselves next week.
Stahl stated that the officers had no choice but to return fire against the assailants after they started shooting in a busy street.
As reported by the Associated Press, Stahl warned that in charging the officers, the Broward State Attorney is creating a scenario that "could have a chilling effect" on how police respond in situations where hostages and innocent civilians are nearby, creating indecision on whether or not they should fire at violent assailants.
Officers Leslie Lee, Jose Mateo, Rodolfo Mirabel, and Richard Santiesteban were indicted by a Grand Jury in June on charges of manslaughter in the deaths of UPS driver Frank Ordonez, 27. Mirabal has been charged individually in connection to the death of bystander Richard Cushaw, 70. The indictments followed a four-year investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Stahl explained, "Those officers didn’t pick that location to have that shootout in. It’s the bad guys. Unfortunately, two (innocent) people lost their lives out there. Our hearts go out to them. Nobody wanted that to happen.”
He told reporters that the ultimate blame for the deaths of Ordonez and Cushaw needs to be laid upon the criminals Lamar Alexander and Ronnie Jerome Hill, cousins who are both 41 years old, who were killed in the shootout.
Speaking with Local10, Stahl said, “These officers had seconds, minutes to make decisions. Our hearts go out to the families and the innocent people who lost their lives, but the anger should be aimed at the two individuals that went into a jewelry store with guns blazing.”
The local outlet explained that on December 5, 2019, two armed assailants, Alexander and Hill, robbed a jewelry store before hijacking a UPS truck with driver Frank Ordonez inside and leading the police on a 25-mile chase. Ultimately the pursuit would cover two counties with over two dozen police officers from several agencies opening fire on the truck at a busy intersection.
Officers from Miami-Dade County, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, and the Florida Highway Patrol took part in the crossfire, with preliminary findings from the state investigation showing over 200 rounds struck the vehicle. Both suspects, as well as Ordonez and Cutshaw, were killed.
In a statement, the Florida PBA said, “We’re extremely disappointed that after almost five years, these officers are finding themselves indicted for something they had seconds to decide. The Broward State Attorney’s office is prosecuting officers for responding to armed subjects, where they just got done prosecuting an officer for not responding in Parkland.”
A defense attorney representing one of the officers David Braun told Local10, “As we’ve seen recently, prosecutors have tremendous power and sometimes that power is prioritized over people. As a resident of our County, I’m concerned the people that protect us are being told that if they do not shoot back at a shooter, they will be prosecuted; Now this case says to those same people if you shoot back at the shooter you will also be prosecuted, Seems like a tough time to be a police officer."
The four officers are expected to surrender themselves next week.
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