ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – The St. Johns County Medical Examiner found that St. Johns County Sgt. Deputy Michael Kunovich — who collapsed and later died at a hospital in May following a struggle with a Guatemalan man who he was trying to detain — died due to cardiac dysrhythmia, an abnormal or irregular heartbeat, that was the result of damaged arteries and high blood pressure.
The medical examiner also said the contributory cause of death was “physical exertion and possible emotional stress while apprehending a fleeing suspect.”
Vergilio Aguilar-Mendez, 18, is charged with manslaughter and has been in jail since May.
The cause of death involving Kunovich was revealed on Wednesday for the first time in a 44-page incident report by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.
In the report, several deputies were interviewed and one said he believed Kunovich would still be alive today if it wasn’t for his interaction with the suspect.
Other deputies reported they heard Kunovich complain about back pain, bronchitis and respiratory illnesses in the past, but nothing heart-related.
Before Kunovich collapsed, a deputy thought he may have been exposed to fentanyl and they gave him Narcan, according to the report. After he collapsed, deputies didn’t feel a pulse and started life-saving protocols before getting him to the hospital.
When it comes to the struggle with Aguilar-Mendez, the deputy accounts said Kunovich called in for a suspicious person and one of them said Kunovich sounded agitated on the radio.
(The video may be disturbing for some viewers, so discretion is strongly advised. News4JAX is only publishing the first two minutes of the nine-minute video to be transparent, as well as respectful to the families. The video gives an unedited view of what happened leading up to the arrest.)
Body-camera video showed that Kunovich got out of his vehicle and approached Aguilar-Mendez. The first thing that can be heard in the video is “Stop.”
Sgt. Kunovich then called in and described Aguilar-Mendez. The 18-year-old was standing near a building with an orange roof which is connected to a Super 8 motel near the St. Augustine outlets, but it is not part of the motel. His defense attorney said he was talking to his mother on the phone.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Aguilar-Mendez responded. “Eating, eating.”
“When you saw me, you got up and walked away. Why?” Kunovich asked.
“Yes,” Aguilar-Mendez responded.
Aguilar-Mendez then addressed Kunovich in Spanish while he pointed to the hotel and then appeared to say “drinking.” His responses are not clear in the video.
Kunovich kept talking to Aguilar-Mendez and asked for his ID and where he was staying.
Aguilar-Mendez then pointed toward the hotel.
“Here?” Kunovich responded. “Why aren’t you eating inside?”
Aguilar-Mendez then told Kunovich he didn’t speak English and the sergeant told him he had someone coming and continued to ask him questions, like if he had identification. Aguilar-Mendez indicated his ID was in his room.
“Do you have any weapons on you?” Kunovich asked.
“No,” Aguilar-Mendez said.
“Well, you know what that is. Turn around let me look,” Kunovich said as he grabbed Aguilar-Mendez’s arm and used his finger to signal him to turn around.
Aguilar-Mendez then started to walk away.
“Don’t walk away from me,” Kunovich said as he raised his voice and grabbed Aguilar-Mendez’s arm with both hands.
MORE: Video of arrest in St. Johns County highlights issues between police, Spanish-speaking residents
“No, no, no, sorry,” Aguilar-Mendez said.
“Don’t pull away from me!” Kunovich said.
Kunovich then started to say “I’m checking you for weapons”, “Get your hands away from your pocket” and yelled “Stop” multiple times before a scuffle broke out.
Aguilar-Mendez can repeatedly be heard saying “I’m sorry” as Kunovich and another deputy wrestled him to the ground.
There are at least three minutes of a scuffle between them. The deputies then used an electric shock device on Aguilar-Mendez several times as he tried to explain he doesn’t speak English.
More deputies arrived and eventually wrestled him into handcuffs.
Before the struggle started, Kunovich called for a Spanish-speaking deputy.
This report doesn’t explain why Kunovich stopped Aguilar-Mendez, asked him questions and tried to search him.
Deputies said Aguilar-Mendez, who is 5-foot-4 and 115 pounds, was sweating profusely, never ran out of strength, and believed he may be using drugs.
The Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday released photos of a folding pocketknife with a two-inch blade that Aguilar-Mendez had on him, a knife that deputies said they struggled to get away from him.
One of the deputies said he had a knife about five minutes into the interaction. According to the report, two deputies said Aguilar-Mendez tried to open it.
A detective asked one of the deputies if someone secured in handcuffs could still pose a threat if they had a weapon and that deputy answered “Absolutely.”
Aguilar-Mendez told detectives he used the knife to pick fruit at the farm where he worked.
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment on the report after it was released Wednesday afternoon.
In the report, it said Aguilar-Mendez was afraid of the deputy because he didn’t want to go to jail and be taken back to Guatemala. He wanted to stay in the United States to continue to progress.
Aguilar-Mendez had entered the country eight months prior and was undergoing the immigration process.
News4JAX reached out to Aguilar-Mendez’s attorney for comment but they did not immediately respond.
On Friday, there is a bond hearing in the case and more evidence is expected to be presented.