Four Florida police officers have been indicted for manslaughter in 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, 32, Richard Santiesteban, 33, and Leslie Lee, 57, were indicted for manslaughter with a firearm for Ordonez’s death, but they are not facing charges in Cutshaw’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, 41, and Ronnie Jerome Hill, 41. The officers surrendered to the Broward Sheriff’s Office after the indictments were issued more than a week ago and were released without bail. If convicted, the officers face a maximum sentence of 30 years.
The years-long state investigation and the months-long grand jury proceedings were necessary “to ensure we get answers for the victims’ families and the community,” said Broward State Attorney Harold Pryor. The decision to use deadly force is one of the most serious decisions a police officer can make, and it is often made during intense and uncertain circumstances.
The union representing the officers criticized the indictment, stating that the officers had seconds to decide and should not be facing charges after almost five years. The shootout occurred during rush hour in suburban Fort Lauderdale, Florida, following a pursuit by multiple police agencies. About 20 law enforcement officers were at the scene, although it remains unclear how many fired their guns at the hijackers.
The suspects had robbed a jewelry store and were firing shots inside when officers arrived. A store employee was wounded during the incident. The robbers then hijacked the UPS driver and led officers on a chase into southern Broward County, firing at them during the pursuit. The suspects eventually stopped at a busy intersection, leading to a shootout where the hijackers, the UPS driver, and a passerby were all killed.
It is uncommon for Florida law enforcement officers to be charged in an on-duty killing, with only three such cases in the past 40 years. Of those, only one officer has been convicted. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and details about who shot Ordonez and Cutshaw have not been disclosed. The community and the families of the victims are seeking answers and justice in this tragic event.