Teenage migrant worker held for months following questionable police stop in Florida

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We as Americans tend to turn the other cheek on undocumented migrants because they contribute significantly to our local economies by depressing labor costs, but the migrants are often mistreated. Back in May, an 18-year-old Guatemalan migrant, gainfully employed by St. Augustine, Florida area agricultural producers, was being detained by a St. Johns County Sheriff's deputy for unknown reasons. Sgt. Michael Kunovich rolled up on Vergilio Aguilar-Mendez, who doesn't speak English, in front of Super 8 Motel, and began questioning him. Kunovich quickly escalated the encounter and began applying physical force against Aguilar-Mendez. During a struggle, Kunovich, a 25-year veteran of SJSO, tased Aguilar-Mendez 4 times. After backup officers arrived and while Aguilar-Mendez was being handcuffed, Kunovich suffered a medical event and was pronounced dead a short time later. Aguilar-Mendez is being charged for his death and has been locked up ever since, even though he had not committed a crime leading up to the questionable stop. There are now calls to free Vergilio Aguilar-Mendez.

 

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