Video Clears Orlando Man of Charges of Trying to Kill Cops

Orlando police officers get caught in a lie. After they shoot a guy twice.

By Jorge Rivas Sep 09, 2011

Prosecutors in Orange-Osceola, Florida have dropped attempted murder charges against a man who was shot twice by police officers because surveillance video from the scene was inconsistent with some of the officers’ sworn statements

Rogelio Cortes was shot in the abdomen and arm in a Target store parking lot because police officers claimed he tried to ram them with his van. But surveillance video shows a blue Orlando Police Department truck ramming Cortes’ van from behind and propelling him forward to other officers in front of him, causing them to shoot Cortes in what officers say was self defense.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement who investigated the case found evidence that was "inconsistent" with some of the officers’ sworn statements and dropped charges of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer and other serious felonies that could have given Cortes a life sentence have been dropped.

A passenger in the truck that rammed Cortes’ van was OPD Sgt. Rhonda Huckelbery. According to local news station WKMG Huckelbery suspected that men in the van had stolen her husband’s credit cards the day before and used them to buy nearly $1,000 in electronics.

The investigation is still ongoing. Cortes is still charged with attempting to flee or elude police.

Prosecutors said they will not be taking any action against the officers.