An illegal immigrant from Guatemala accused of being involved with the death of a Florida police sergeant has been released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody.
Virgilio Aguilar Mendez, 19, was accused of being involved with the death of St. Johns County Sgt. Michael Kunovich.
The incident happened around 9 p.m. on May 19, when Kunovich approached Mendez for “suspicious behavior” outside a closed restaurant in St. Augustine, according to the arrest report.
“Aguilar Mendez was walking on a public sidewalk and speaking with his mother, which is not a crime,” a lawsuit read. “When Sgt. Kunovich seized Aguilar Mendez, he stopped and did not try to flee.”
Police bodycam footage shows Kunovich asking the teen for identification, but Mendez does not speak English.
Bodycam video shows Mendez resisting as Kunovich attempts to pat him down. Police said the teen did have a small pocket knife in his possession at the time of the confrontation.
A struggle ensued and a deputy tased Mendez, and the teen was thrown on the grass.
The police restrained Mendez.
However, Kunovich suffered a medical emergency during the encounter and collapsed to the ground. The Florida police sergeant was rushed to the hospital, but he…
