Former Miami-Dade police chief speaks out about charges against cops – NBC 6 South Florida

A former Miami-Dade police director is speaking out after four department officers were charged in connection with a fatal shooting in Miramar that left a hostage and a bystander dead more than four years ago.

Juan Perez was Miami-Dade Police Director in December 2019 when officers from his department were involved in a fatal shootout with robbery suspects near Miramar Parkway and Flamingo Road.

The incident began in Coral Gables when police say armed robbers took a UPS driver hostage and then led officers on a chase into Broward.

UPS driver Frank Ordonez and an innocent bystander in his car, Richard Cutshaw, were killed in the crossfire.

A few days after the shooting, an NBC6 investigation revealed that one of the suspects pointed his gun at police and appeared to have fired the first shot.

“Then it’s over. That’s when the officers will definitely open fire,” attorney Michael Feiler told NBC6 as he watched a video of the 2019 incident.

Four years later, a Broward County grand jury has indicted four Miami-Dade Police officers involved in the case. According to a source, three officers are facing manslaughter charges and the fourth is facing two counts of manslaughter.

“The culprits are the two individuals who started this chaos, and they too both died after being involved in a gun battle with police,” Perez told NBC6.

Perez pointed out that the shooting occurred less than two years after the Parkland school shooting, in which a deputy sheriff was called a “coward” for his behavior toward the shooter.

“What you saw that day was the result of the temperature that existed at that moment. When shots are fired, you move toward the gunfire to confront the threat,” Perez said.

More than four years have passed since a deadly shootout between police and two armed suspects who hijacked a UPS delivery truck. Frank Ordonez, a UPS driver, was one of two people caught in the crossfire and killed. NBC6’s Kim Wynne spoke with Ordonez’s family and heard their reaction.

Perez said the charges will have a deterrent effect on officers.

“This can cause some officers to question their decision and perhaps hesitate. If you don’t act quickly, it could cost you or others your life,” Perez said.

The charges remain sealed until the officers turn themselves in. The president of the South Florida PBA says they will likely turn themselves in next week.

The MDPD released a statement on the charges on Tuesday.

“The Miami-Dade Police Department is aware that four of its officers were recently indicted by a Broward County grand jury. Because grand jury proceedings are not disclosed under Florida law until a judge orders otherwise, the information available to us is limited. Our police department respects the legal process to ensure transparency and accountability for our community,” the statement said.

Ordonez’s family told NBC6 they will never forget the day the father of two was killed.

“I just hope there is justice. I really hope so,” said Ordonez’s sister Genevie Merino. “We all want closure and peace. We didn’t get that.”