Four Florida police officers have been indicted for manslaughter in connection with the deaths of a UPS driver and a passerby during a shootout with suspects who had hijacked the UPS driver in December 2019. The grand jury indicted Rodolfo Mirabal on two counts of manslaughter with a firearm, while officers Jose Mateo, Richard Santiesteban, and Leslie Lee were indicted for manslaughter with a firearm for the UPS driver’s death. Mirabal and Mateo still work for the Miami-Dade Police, while Lee retired three years ago and Santiesteban was terminated.
The officers were not charged in the deaths of the hijackers, Lamar Alexander and Ronnie Jerome Hill. 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, they could face a maximum sentence of 30 years. Broward State Attorney Harold Pryor emphasized the importance of the investigation and grand jury proceedings to get answers for the victims’ families and the community, highlighting the seriousness of the decision to use deadly force.
The shootout took place during rush hour in suburban Fort Lauderdale following a pursuit by multiple police agencies, with about 20 law enforcement officers present at the scene. Alexander and Hill had robbed a jewelry store and were firing shots inside when officers arrived, leading to a chase that resulted in the hijacking of the UPS driver. The suspects fired at officers during the pursuit, ultimately leading to a shootout at a busy intersection where multiple individuals, including the suspects, the UPS driver, and a passerby, lost their lives.
The union representing the officers criticized the indictment, expressing disappointment that the officers are facing charges after making a split-second decision during a high-stress situation. The shooting incident during the pursuit involved uncertainty about who shot the victims, and it remains unclear if the UPS driver and passerby were shot by police, the suspects, or both. Florida law enforcement officers are rarely charged in on-duty killings, with only three cases in the past 40 years and only one conviction.
Miami-Dade police stated that they respect the legal process, while the union president raised concerns about the chilling effect the indictment could have on officers in Broward County. The length of the investigation and grand jury proceedings reflects the seriousness with which authorities are treating the case due to the lives lost and the impact on the victims’ families and the community. The officers involved in the shootout must now face the legal consequences of their actions and await the outcome of their trial in court.
