A wrongful arrest in Seminole County has led to deputies undergoing re-training, as first reported by WFTV. Victor Gordillo, a 47-year-old former Army Ranger and currently employed with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, was mistakenly arrested in his home based on false shoplifting accusations. The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office deputies, on the hunt for a suspect in a petty theft case involving $120 worth of frozen shrimp, had intended to locate Gordillo's father, who shares his name but not his innocence.
The deputies entered Gordillo's Lake Mary residence without a warrant, threatening the use of tasers and physically wrestling Gordillo to the ground, which only later did they discover not only the mixed-up identities but that they were targeting a man with a different birth year. According to WFTV, following the incident, officials quickly acknowledged their error, but not before causing substantial emotional and physical distress to Gordillo and his family, who are now considering legal action.
A new angle to this story has been provided by body camera footage recently released. This footage graphically captures the harrowing moments of Gordillo's wrongful treatment at the hands of deputies. Following the public circulation, the Seminole County Sheriff's Office is now facing legal scrutiny for potential constitutional violations. FOX 35 Orlando reported that Attorney Dan Faherty, representing the Gordillo family, has made statements indicating the deputies' actions infringed upon the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights of his clients.
"The mere fact that they entered his home violates his constitutional rights under the Fourth Amendment not to be to have his person seized without probable cause," Faherty told FOX 35 Orlando. Further distress was inflicted on Gordillo, already suffering from disabilities due to his military service, as the deputies, instead of acknowledging their mistake, maneuvered to prop him up while waiting for medical assistance. His afflictions from the altercation were so severe, Faherty indicated, that hospitalization and surgery have become immediate necessities for Gordillo.
While the State Attorney's Office has since dropped the petty theft charges against Gordillo's father, citing insufficient evidence, the damage appears to be done. The family’s trauma, highlighted by the need for therapy and physical injuries due to the deputies' errors, has set the stage for a potentially significant legal battle against Seminole County and the city of Oviedo.
