Man Takes Plea Deal In Shooting Of Detective During Raid
MIAMI (CBSMiami/NSF) - A man charged after a Miami-Dade police detective was shot during a house raid accepted a plea deal minutes before a jury was to be selected for his trial.
Luis Estevanell, 62, pleaded guilty to second degree murder, first degree attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, marijuana trafficking and possession of cocaine. In exchange, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
On July 31st, 2012, undercover detective John Saavedra was just one of a small contingent of police officers and FBI agents who converged on the Southwest Miami-Dade home believed to be used to traffic marijuana.
The surveillance tape captured detective Saavedra walking up to the home near Coral Way and Southwest 60th Court., while wearing his police badge, and then he and an FBI agent detaining Estevanell who was seen going into, and coming out of the home, several times.
Suddenly, according to police, homeowner Gerard Delgado stepped out of a dark-colored BMW with tinted windows and begins firing at police. Delgado hid behind a tree in the front of the house. He was shot and killed during the incident. Before going down, Delgado shot Saavedra three times below his bullet-proof vest.
During Estevanell's bond hearing Saavedra testified that he got violent when he tried escape.
"He was stomping me while I was on the ground," said Saavedra. "When I saw him, he was stomping me, kicking me, punching me, striking me, taking the gun out of my hand. So I am in fear that he is going to pick up my firearm and kill me with my own firearm."
In 2013 Saavedra, a former Miami-Dade PBA Officer of the year, was recognized by the National Association of Police Organizations for his heroic efforts.
Even though he never fired a shot, Estevanell was charged with, among other things, second degree murder because under Florida law, anyone who commits a felony during a homicide can be held responsible for that murder.
Miami-Dade Police say they found 80 pounds of marijuana, worth $90,000, in the home.
