A high-profile “stand your ground” hearing is taking place in Broward County for three Miami-Dade police officers charged with manslaughter in a deadly shootout on Miramar Parkway nearly six years ago.
Officers Rodolfo Mirabal, Richard Santiesteban, and Leslie Lee face charges related to the December 5, 2019 incident, which began when two assailants hijacked a UPS truck during a Coral Gables jewelry heist. The hijacking triggered a police chase that ended in a rush-hour shootout after the truck got stuck in traffic.
The confrontation left UPS driver Frank Ordonez and bystander Richard Cutshaw dead. Following a lengthy investigation, Mirabal, Santiesteban, Lee, and a fourth officer, Jose Mateo, were indicted on manslaughter charges.
In September, a judge dismissed the manslaughter charge against Mateo, ruling that Florida’s stand your ground law applied in his case. The Broward State Attorney’s Office is appealing that decision.
On Monday, prosecutors called FBI Special Agent Jose Loureiro, the crime scene team leader, as their sole witness. Loureiro described the evidence collected at the scene, while defense attorneys questioned him to challenge the investigation’s thoroughness and conclusions.
Prosecutors argue that stand your ground should not apply, stating that neither Ordonez nor Cutshaw were aggressors in the confrontation. The hearing is expected to continue throughout the week.