Four Florida police officers have been indicted for manslaughter in connection with the deaths of a UPS driver and a passerby during a 2019 shootout with suspects who hijacked the UPS driver. The grand jury indicted Miami-Dade County officer Rodolfo Mirabal, 39, on two counts of manslaughter with a firearm in connection with the deaths of UPS driver Frank Ordonez, 27, and Richard Cutshaw, 70, who was driving nearby.
Officers Jose Mateo, Richard Santiesteban, and Leslie Lee were also indicted for manslaughter with a firearm for Ordonez's death. Mirabal and Mateo still work for Miami-Dade police, while Lee retired three years ago and Santiesteban was terminated. None of the officers were charged in the deaths of the hijackers Lamar Alexander and Ronnie Jerome Hill.
If convicted, the officers face a maximum sentence of 30 years. Broward State Attorney Harold Pryor emphasized the importance of the investigation and grand jury proceedings in seeking justice for the victims' families and the community.
The shootout occurred during rush hour in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, following a pursuit by multiple police agencies. The suspects had robbed a jewelry store and fired shots inside before hijacking Ordonez. The pursuit ended in a shootout where Ordonez, Cutshaw, and the suspects were killed.
It remains unclear who fired the fatal shots that resulted in the deaths of Ordonez and Cutshaw. The officers involved surrendered to authorities after the indictments were issued and were released without bail. The union representing the officers expressed disappointment in the indictments, citing the split-second decisions made by the officers during the intense situation.
Charges against law enforcement officers in on-duty killings are rare in Florida, with only a few cases in the past four decades. The outcome of this case will be closely watched as it unfolds in the legal system.
