North Miami Cop Jonathan Aledda Who Shot Charles Kinsey Charged With Attempted Manslaughter

Jonathan Aledda, charged with felony attempted manslaughter and misdemeanor culpable negligence

Miami-Dade State’s Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle has changed her 24 year reputation for not charging law enforcement officers for on-duty shootings.  On April 12, 2017, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office announced it has charged North Miami SWAT Officer Jonathan Aledda with felony attempted manslaughter and misdemeanor culpable negligence.  Aledda shot Charles Kinsey, an unarmed Black man, on July 8, 2016.  Kinsey is a therapist for a group home and was trying to help an autistic man, Arnaldo Rios-Soto, to get out of the street and return to the group home.

A bystander called 911 and said Rios-Soto might have been holding a gun.  That caller also repeated several times that the person holding something to his head appeared to be mentally ill. Factually, Rios-Soto was holding a toy truck.

 

A cell-phone video captured Kinsey lying on his back with his arms in the air, stating who he is, his job, that Arnaldo Rios-Soto is his patient, that he did not have a gun, and begging officers not to shoot.

Investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) included taking statements of police witnesses.  The Miami New Times obtained audio from North Miami Police Chief Gary Eugene’s testimony to Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigators.  That testimony revealed that Eugene said his officers announced over police radio that Rios-Soto was holding a toy before Aledda shot Kinsey.

The Miami New Times also obtained a second testimony from North Miami Police Commander Emile Hollant, which also said the cops were told Rios-Soto did not have a gun.  Aledda shot Kinsey anyway.

The Miami News Times reports;

“Aledda’s 25-page arrest warrant now reveals the exact words cops used over police radio. “I have a visual. Does not appear to be a firearm. Have units QRX,” the warrant says NMPD cop Alens Bernadeau said over the radio. The warrant explains that “QRX is code for ‘stand by.'” The dispatcher then repeated Bernadeau’s calls to stand by and not to fire.”

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Last year, Kinsey filed a federal lawsuit alleging violation of his civil rights, use of excessive force and false arrest.