LATEST: State Attorney Monique H. Worrell released a statement on Thursday announcing that charges are forthcoming for one deputy and a suspect involved in a Wawa arrest that resulted in a huge inferno that seriously injured one man.Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez is expected to hold a news conference at 4 p.m. Thursday to address the incident. WESH 2 will stream above. Attorneys for a 26-year-old man who was tased at a gas pump by Osceola County sheriff’s deputies claim he never committed a crime and is now living in daily extreme pain and fighting for his life.Surveillance video from the Wawa at John Young and Central Florida Parkway on Feb. 28 show the flames that engulfed motorcyclist Jean Baretto and three Osceola County deputies.According to the sheriff’s office, the deputies were attempting to arrest Baretto who had fled after allegedly being part of a group of motorcyclists driving recklessly and pointing a gun at other drivers.But Wednesday, Baretto’s attorneys told a different story.“We’re not saying anything other than let’s get the truth out. And it’s not out,” attorney Mark NeJame said.NeJame and attorney Albert Yonfa now represent Barreto who they say initially was not expected to survive and has been hospitalized for 80 days with third-degree burns over 75% of his body.The attorneys allege the surveillance video shows Baretto, who they say was not fleeing, being tackled by a deputy from behind as he pumped gas.Other deputies pull up. One fires a taser at Baretto, and according to the State Fire Marshal’s report, that taser ignites the blaze.Among the attorney’s questions is why the deputies would deploy a taser toward someone who is pumping gas which is highly flammable.They also question why the sheriff’s office has not yet released more information about the incident including body camera video.“We’re calling today for FDLE to take this case over or to have the US Justice Dept take this case over. There’s too much going on, too many questions that need to be asked,” NeJame said.So far, Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez has not responded to questions from WESH 2 News regarding the case. He plans a news conference on the incident Thursday afternoon.Lopez has been in hot water lately with the actions of his deputies also in question for the shooting of three young men suspected of shoplifting at a Kissimmee Target. One of those men died.As for the deputies who were also burned at the gas pump, according to the Fire Marshal’s office, two were treated and released, but a third suffered third-degree burns on his lower extremities and was hospitalized.
LATEST:
State Attorney Monique H. Worrell released a statement on Thursday announcing that charges are forthcoming for one deputy and a suspect involved in a Wawa arrest that resulted in a huge inferno that seriously injured one man.
Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez is expected to hold a news conference at 4 p.m. Thursday to address the incident. WESH 2 will stream above.
Attorneys for a 26-year-old man who was tased at a gas pump by Osceola County sheriff’s deputies claim he never committed a crime and is now living in daily extreme pain and fighting for his life.
Surveillance video from the Wawa at John Young and Central Florida Parkway on Feb. 28 show the flames that engulfed motorcyclist Jean Baretto and three Osceola County deputies.
According to the sheriff’s office, the deputies were attempting to arrest Baretto who had fled after allegedly being part of a group of motorcyclists driving recklessly and pointing a gun at other drivers.
But Wednesday, Baretto’s attorneys told a different story.
“We’re not saying anything other than let’s get the truth out. And it’s not out,” attorney Mark NeJame said.
NeJame and attorney Albert Yonfa now represent Barreto who they say initially was not expected to survive and has been hospitalized for 80 days with third-degree burns over 75% of his body.
The attorneys allege the surveillance video shows Baretto, who they say was not fleeing, being tackled by a deputy from behind as he pumped gas.
Other deputies pull up. One fires a taser at Baretto, and according to the State Fire Marshal’s report, that taser ignites the blaze.
Among the attorney’s questions is why the deputies would deploy a taser toward someone who is pumping gas which is highly flammable.
They also question why the sheriff’s office has not yet released more information about the incident including body camera video.
“We’re calling today for FDLE to take this case over or to have the US Justice Dept take this case over. There’s too much going on, too many questions that need to be asked,” NeJame said.
So far, Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez has not responded to questions from WESH 2 News regarding the case. He plans a news conference on the incident Thursday afternoon.
Lopez has been in hot water lately with the actions of his deputies also in question for the shooting of three young men suspected of shoplifting at a Kissimmee Target. One of those men died.
As for the deputies who were also burned at the gas pump, according to the Fire Marshal’s office, two were treated and released, but a third suffered third-degree burns on his lower extremities and was hospitalized.