MIAMI – A multi-million dollar jury verdict versus Miami-Dade Police following a fatal crash involving a bicyclist. For the to start with time considering that the choice, CBS Information Miami solely speaks with the widow of the man killed approximately a few years back.
CBS Information Miami’s Joe Gorchow spoke completely with Jeishy Zerpa. He questioned her, “How often do you relive that working day?”
“When I wake up on Saturdays, all around the exact same time, I glimpse at the clock and say this is when my life changed,” stated a tearful Zerpa.
CBS News Miami
Zerpa’s spouse, Juan Carlos Martinez, died on the morning of February 27th, 2021. A Miami-Dade Law enforcement car strike and killed him as he was out for a morning bike journey in the Redland.
That morning, the human body cam footage presented to us by Zerpa’s authorized staff displays what took place in the minutes after the crash.
Martinez’s biking group appeared shaken.
Soon just after receiving a contact about the incident, Zerpa says she rushed to the medical center. When she arrived, Zerpa told Gorchow, “He experienced a sheet that was covering him. I grabbed the sheet off from his entire body. He was just laying there as if he was sleeping.”
A Miami-Dade State Legal professional spokesman advised CBS News Miami a “critique of all the proof indicated that this was a tragic incident.”
The officer concerned was under no circumstances criminally charged.
Zerpa submitted a civil lawsuit against Miami-Dade County in September of 2021, looking for damages for negligence on the officer’s portion.
This week, a jury sided with Zerpa, awarding $3,000,000 for damages to her and their daughter, Miranda.
“I was pleased they have been in a position to see and reach that verdict,” pointed out Zerpa.
One that are not able to recover all wounds.
“I do not assume I will ever come across closure,” mentioned Zerpa.
Zerpa then mirrored on the instances she viewed her partner and tiny lady invest time participating in together.
“Just about every time I see her participating in and doing all those things, I can just imagine him doing it,” stated Zerpa.
She shared a image that was taken the working day in advance of the accident. A picture of father and newborn female in entrance of a cake lined in crimson icing. A lasting memory of a happy father with his 9-thirty day period-aged toddler girl.
Then Gorchow watched as Zerpa twirled her marriage band on her finger as she believed about all the memories she experienced made. He requested her, “I see you nonetheless don the wedding ceremony band. What does the ring imply to you?”
“On our marriage ceremony working day, Juan Carlos wrote a letter to me,” as tears commenced to fill her eyes. “He stated in that letter, as of that working day. We ended up usually likely to be jointly. And he closed the letter by expressing, you should not you at any time give up on me because I will never ever give up on you.”
Gorchow asked Miami-Dade police if they plan to attraction. They advised him that it’s not nevertheless regarded if 1 will be coming.
Here’s the whole assertion about the incident from MDPD:
“MDPD’s Targeted traffic Murder Device carried out an investigation into the deadly crash involving Mr. Juan Carlos Martinez Silva and Officer Bendana. The details surrounding the crash had been furnished to the Miami-Dade Condition Attorney’s Office for critique. The Miami Dade Condition Attorney’s Office environment reviewed the facts and on March 15, 2021, determined that no felony fees were to be submitted against Officer Bendana. The Miami-Dade Professional Compliance Bureau then commenced investigating no matter whether any MDPD procedures had been violated by Officer Bendana. It was in the long run identified that although responding to a phone for a theft in progress, Officer Bendana violated departmental policy by activating his unexpected emergency alerts without authorization and driving among 50-58 miles per hour in a 40-mph zone. When Officer Bendana was traveling down the road, Mr. Martinez Silva tragically fell into the route of the MDPD auto pushed by Officer Bendana. As Officer Bendana was not found to be at fault for the accident and based mostly on the mother nature of the violations sustained in opposition to him, Officer Bendana was issued a composed reprimand for his violation of departmental policy. Officer Bendana is even now an officer with the Miami-Dade Law enforcement Office.”
