Charges dropped against Guatemalan farmworker in death of sheriff's officer during arrest
A Guatemalan farmworker has been cleared of charges in the heart-attack death of a Florida sheriff's officer, a case that drew celebrity attention and prompted a nationwide petition for his freedom.
A Guatemalan farmworker has been cleared of charges in the heart-attack death of a Florida sheriff's officer, a case that drew celebrity attention and prompted a nationwide petition for his freedom.
NBC News reported on the case of 19-year-old Virgilio Aguilar Mendez, in December, after his attorney obtained and shared body camera video of the arrest.
On Friday, the state attorney in Florida's 7th Judicial Circuit said in a statement that dismissing charges against Aguilar Mendez was appropriate.
Expert testimony on Aguilar Mendez's inability to comprehend English, his cultural background and concerns about his intellectual capacity had raised concerns in the case, said R.J. Larizza, the prosecutor in the case. He added that a judge recently ruled that Aguilar Mendez was incompetent to face prosecution based on that expert testimony.
"Arrest and time served is sufficient," the state's attorney stated.
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