Almost five years after a chaotic police shootout following a hijacked UPS truck in Miramar, a grand jury has indicted four Miami-Dade police officers for their roles in the fatal incident. On December 5, 2019, two armed robbers commandeered a UPS truck, took the driver hostage, and led authorities on a pursuit through multiple cities. The chase ended in gunfire at a crowded intersection during rush hour, resulting in four fatalities, including the UPS driver and an innocent bystander.
The indictments came after a prolonged investigation with UPS driver Frank Ordonez and bystander Richard Cutshaw losing their lives in the crossfire. According to Local 10 News, approximately 200 bullets struck the hijacked UPS truck. The names of the involved officers and specific charges have not been released. Ordonez’s mother, Lucy Apolinario, shared her longing for justice, particularly for the sake of her late son’s children.
The incident, which had started with a jewelry store robbery in Coral Gables, was broadcast live on television, capturing the horror as a public spectacle. “Somebody shooting, in the front,” stated an officer in a dispatch call regarding the shootout as reported by WSVN. The Police Benevolent Association expressed dismay with the indictments, stating their officers had precious seconds to react to a life-threatening situation and underscoring the paradox faced by law enforcement in responding to high-stakes events.
In the aftermath, Ordonez’s family has been vocal about their grief and their desire for accountability. “Not one day that passes by that I don’t think about my brother,” Genevie Merino, Frank Ordonez’s sister, told WSVN. The Broward State Attorney’s Office has refrained from commenting on the indictments, citing the secrecy of grand jury proceedings as per Florida law.
A previous lawsuit filed by Ordonez’s family was dismissed due to sovereign immunity, leaving them with no legal recourse against the law enforcement agencies, as NBC Miami reported. Tragically reflective of the events on that December day, a memorial stands near Miramar Parkway and Flamingo Road, honoring the lives lost, including Frank Ordonez’s.
