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Teen migrant once accused in deputy’s death, says ‘every day is a struggle’ but he’s ‘happy to be free’
Read full article: Teen migrant once accused in deputy’s death, says ‘every day is a struggle’ but he’s ‘happy to be free’It’s been about a year since a St. Johns County Deputy died of a heart attack shortly after trying to arrest an 18-year-old migrant worker in St. Augustine.
19-year-old migrant worker, once charged in death of St. Johns County deputy, is released from custody
Read full article: 19-year-old migrant worker, once charged in death of St. Johns County deputy, is released from custodyVergilio Aguliar-Mendez, the migrant farm worker who was charged after the death of Sgt. Michael Kunovich, has been released from federal custody in Baker County.
Case involving migrant accused in death of St. Johns County deputy in limbo after incompetency ruling: State Attorney
Read full article: Case involving migrant accused in death of St. Johns County deputy in limbo after incompetency ruling: State AttorneyFor the first time on Monday, State Attorney R.J. Larizza answered questions about the controversial case involving an 18-year-old migrant who is accused in the death of a St. Johns County deputy.
High-profile attorney Jose Baez takes over defense of 18-year-old charged in death of St. Johns County deputy
Read full article: High-profile attorney Jose Baez takes over defense of 18-year-old charged in death of St. Johns County deputyNationally-known lawyer Jose Baez has joined the defense team for Vergilio Aguliar Mendez, the 18-year-old migrant charged with manslaughter in the death of St. Johns County Sgt. Michael Kunovich.
St. Johns County deputy who died after struggle with migrant may have had heart attack before encounter, autopsy finds
Read full article: St. Johns County deputy who died after struggle with migrant may have had heart attack before encounter, autopsy findsAttorneys for 18-year-old migrant Vergilio Aguilar-Mendez, who is accused in the death of a St. Johns County deputy, are bolstering their arguments for why the case should be dismissed.
Attorneys for 18-year-old migrant accused in death of St. Johns County deputy seek to dismiss manslaughter charge
Read full article: Attorneys for 18-year-old migrant accused in death of St. Johns County deputy seek to dismiss manslaughter chargeAttorneys for Vergilio Aguilar-Mendez are pushing for the manslaughter charge he is facing to be dropped.
Attorneys for migrant accused in St. Johns County deputy’s death ask for him to be released on bond. What happens next?
Read full article: Attorneys for migrant accused in St. Johns County deputy’s death ask for him to be released on bond. What happens next?Attorneys for Vergilio Aguilar-Mendez have again asked for a bond in his case.
Civil attorney for 18-year-old migrant accused in St. Johns County deputy’s death says client was racially profiled
Read full article: Civil attorney for 18-year-old migrant accused in St. Johns County deputy’s death says client was racially profiledA civil attorney sent a demand letter to the State Attorney’s Office and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office to drop the charges against 18-year-old Vergilio Aguilar-Mendez.
Judge finds migrant accused in St. Johns County deputy’s death not competent for prosecution
Read full article: Judge finds migrant accused in St. Johns County deputy’s death not competent for prosecutionAfter taking time to consider testimony from a Dec. 22 mental competency hearing, Judge R. Lee Smith found an 18-year-old from Guatemala not competent for prosecution in the death of a St. Johns County deputy.
Judge acknowledges migrant accused in St. Johns County deputy’s death is entitled to bond, calls case ‘complex’
Read full article: Judge acknowledges migrant accused in St. Johns County deputy’s death is entitled to bond, calls case ‘complex’A mental competency hearing was held Friday for an 18-year-old facing a manslaughter accusation in the death of a St. Johns County deputy.
Attorney for migrant accused in St. Johns County deputy’s death calls for charges to be dropped ahead of bond hearing
Read full article: Attorney for migrant accused in St. Johns County deputy’s death calls for charges to be dropped ahead of bond hearingVergilio Aguilar-Mendez is set to appear in court on Friday for a hearing as he faces manslaughter accusations in the death of St. Johns County Sergeant Deputy Michael Kunovich.
Defense attorney weighs in on newly released report that details St. Johns County deputy’s cause of death
Read full article: Defense attorney weighs in on newly released report that details St. Johns County deputy’s cause of deathAfter a 44-page incident report revealed that St. Johns County Sgt. Deputy Michael Kunovich died from natural causes after a struggle with an 18-year-old Guatemalan migrant whom he was trying to detain, Vergilio Aguilar Mendez is still charged with manslaughter and has been in jail since May.
Medical examiner says struggle with migrant, possible emotional stress contributed to death of St. Johns County deputy
Read full article: Medical examiner says struggle with migrant, possible emotional stress contributed to death of St. Johns County deputyThe St. Johns County Medical Examiner found that St. Johns County Sgt. Deputy Michael Kunovich — who collapsed and later died at a hospital in May following a struggle with a Guatemalan man who he was trying to detain — died due to cardiac dysrhythmia, an abnormal or irregular heartbeat, that was the result of damaged arteries and high blood pressure.
National media attention brings new scrutiny to confrontation between migrant, St. Johns County deputy seen in video
Read full article: National media attention brings new scrutiny to confrontation between migrant, St. Johns County deputy seen in videoA body camera video that shows an exchange between a Spanish-speaking man and a St. Johns County deputy is now getting national attention.
Guatemalan 18-year-old accused of manslaughter in death of St. Johns County deputy brings in civil attorney
Read full article: Guatemalan 18-year-old accused of manslaughter in death of St. Johns County deputy brings in civil attorneyThe man accused of manslaughter in the death of a St. Johns County deputy earlier this year has retained a civil attorney in the case.
Video of arrest in St. Johns County highlights issues between police, Spanish-speaking residents
Read full article: Video of arrest in St. Johns County highlights issues between police, Spanish-speaking residentsNews4JAX wanted to see how representative our law enforcement agencies are to the growing Hispanic populations across Northeast Florida. According to data from the FDLE and the Census Bureau, there is a gap.
Body camera video shows language barrier, scuffle between St. Johns County Sgt., man accused in his death
Read full article: Body camera video shows language barrier, scuffle between St. Johns County Sgt., man accused in his deathNews4JAX obtained body camera video that shows the moment when a St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant confronted a man standing outside a closed business.
Competency motion filed for man charged with felony murder in connection to St. Johns County deputy death
Read full article: Competency motion filed for man charged with felony murder in connection to St. Johns County deputy deathThe lawyer for a man accused of resisting arrest that led to the death of a St. Johns County deputy filed a motion suggesting her client is not competent to stand trial.
Friend of fallen St. Johns County deputy who died in the line of duty helps raise money for his family
Read full article: Friend of fallen St. Johns County deputy who died in the line of duty helps raise money for his familyA community-supported organization that helps local law enforcement held a fundraiser Saturday for a fallen St. Johns County deputy who died while trying to take someone into custody.
Attorney says 2 key questions in death of St. Johns County deputy: How did he die and was suspect trespassing?
Read full article: Attorney says 2 key questions in death of St. Johns County deputy: How did he die and was suspect trespassing?Kunovich died in the line of duty Friday night after detaining a man who Sheriff Rob Hardwick said was trespassing at a permanently closed business off State Road 16 in St. Augustine.
Struggle between suspect, St. Johns County deputy who died started after suspect seen trespassing, sheriff says
Read full article: Struggle between suspect, St. Johns County deputy who died started after suspect seen trespassing, sheriff saysSt. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick on Wednesday revealed new details surrounding the death of Sergeant Michael Kunovich.
Cause of St. Johns County deputy’s death becomes key question in felony murder case
Read full article: Cause of St. Johns County deputy’s death becomes key question in felony murder caseThe St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office is now working to verify the immigration status of a man charged with murder in connection to the death of Sgt. Michael Kunovich.
Honor guard escorts fallen St. Johns County deputy
Read full article: Honor guard escorts fallen St. Johns County deputyAn honor guard escorted a St. Johns County sergeant who died in the line of duty over the weekend as his body was moved Monday from the medical examiner’s office to be prepared for his funeral.
Man charged with murder in connection to death of St. Johns County deputy
Read full article: Man charged with murder in connection to death of St. Johns County deputyThe St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man on a felony murder charge after an altercation led to the death of Sgt. Michael Kunovich.