Full Breakdown
Florida Officers Cleared in UPS Driver Shooting Under "Stand Your Ground" Law
3/24/2026, 10:12:15 AM
Ruling on Officer Immunity
A Broward County judge has ruled that three Miami-Dade police officers—Richard Santiesteban, Leslie Lee, and Rodolfo Mirabal—will not face prosecution for their involvement in the 2019 shooting that resulted in the deaths of UPS driver Frank Ordonez and bystander Richard Cutshaw. Broward Circuit Judge Ernest Kollra determined that the officers were justified in their use of deadly force under Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law. This ruling follows a similar decision made in September 2025, which cleared another officer, Jose Mateo, of manslaughter charges for the same incident.
The shooting occurred on December 5, 2019, when Ordonez was taken hostage during a robbery at a jewelry store in Coral Gables. The suspects, Lamar Alexander and Ronnie Jerome Hill, forced Ordonez to drive the stolen UPS truck, leading to a high-speed police chase that ended at a busy intersection in Miramar. During the confrontation, police engaged the suspects, resulting in a barrage of gunfire that killed Ordonez and Cutshaw, who was an innocent motorist.
Legal Justifications and Evidence
Judge Kollra's ruling emphasized that the officers acted under the belief that their actions were necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm. The court found that the state had not provided sufficient evidence to prove otherwise. Body camera footage played during the trial supported the officers' claims that they were responding to shots fired by the armed robbers.
The ruling stated, “The Court finds that the State has not established by clear and convincing evidence that Defendant did not have a reasonable belief that his use of deadly force was necessary.” This legal standard is critical under Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, which permits the use of force if an individual believes it is necessary to prevent harm.
Official Statements and Responses
The Broward State Attorney's Office has announced plans to appeal the recent rulings, maintaining that "Stand Your Ground" immunity should not apply in cases involving innocent bystanders. They stated, “It is our belief that Stand Your Ground immunity does not apply in matters involving innocent bystanders, like Frank Ordonez and Richard Cutshaw, who presented no danger to officers.” The office has expressed concern over the implications of these rulings, particularly regarding the safety of innocent individuals during police confrontations.
Criticism and Opposition
Critics of the ruling argue that the application of the "Stand Your Ground" law in this case undermines accountability for law enforcement officers. They contend that the deaths of Ordonez and Cutshaw highlight the potential dangers of allowing police to claim immunity in situations where innocent lives are lost. The state attorney's office has reiterated that the lives of numerous bystanders were endangered during the incident, raising questions about the appropriateness of the officers' actions.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
While the judge's ruling has been framed as a legal victory for the officers involved, the Broward State Attorney's Office's appeal indicates ongoing legal disputes regarding the interpretation of the "Stand Your Ground" law. The differing views on the applicability of this law in cases involving bystanders suggest a complex legal landscape that may continue to evolve as appeals progress.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The court finds that the state has not established by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant did not have a reasonable belief that his use of deadly force was necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony,” — Judge Ernest Kollra
- “It is our belief that Stand Your Ground immunity does not apply in matters involving innocent bystanders, like Frank Ordonez and Richard Cutshaw, who presented no danger to officers.” — Broward State Attorney’s Office
