Posted on 08/04/2006 8:46:52 PM PDT by stainlessbanner
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating how an illegal immigrant accused in a hit-and-run case that killed an off-duty police officer allegedly got his hands on a counterfeit Florida identification card.
Miguel Garduña-Gonzalez, 43, spoke to WESH 2's partner station Telemundo about what happened earlier this week when he allegedly hit and killed Haines City Officer Phoenix Braithwaite.
During a jailhouse interview, a tearful and remorseful Gonzalez spoke about his wife and four kids.
Police said Gonzalez, who is an illegal immigrant, was behind the wheel of a minivan when it struck Braithwaite on Wednesday.
Braithwaite was on his motorcycle on his way to work. The head-on collision near the Osceola-Polk county line killed the 24-year-old officer on the spot.
Gonzalez, who did not have a driver's license, allegedly left the scene. Police caught up with him 11 hours later.
"I feel depressed because I am poor," Gonzalez said through a translator.
He didn't want to talk about the fatal accident, but he admitted that the mistake has ruined his life.
"I am the only one who provides for my family, so I don't know what's going to happen with them," he said.
Now in jail, Gonzalez said he fears he'll lose his job. He and his family have been in Florida illegally for seven years.
"To grant me a better life for my family," he said.
The Telemundo reporter asked him what he would change about what happened on Wednesday.
"I don't know how to explain," he said.
Officials said if Gonzalez had not fled the scene, he would have been given only a ticket in the accident. Instead, he is now facing more serious charges.
Braithwaite's funeral will be held on Tuesday in Haines City.
Every crime committed by an illegal alien is a preventable crime. Secure the borders now!
What the ...? He kills an officer - but if he'd stayed at the scene, he would only have gotten a ticket??!
The press is complicit in MURDER, if they insist on adopting this attitude!
What about the police officer's family? I don't give a feces about the illegal's family.
"I am the only one who provides for my family, so I don't know what's going to happen with them," he said."
Could care less about Phoenix Braithwaite, who he killed, and the officer's family.
Hang him. Then deport him. We don't want his kind coming back. He ruined that officer's family.
my thoughts exactly:
nobody seems to care that somebody DIED!
"Murder" still requires intent. And illegal status, or forgery by itself would not constitute causing death during the commission of another crime. If he hit someone while fleeing police, that would be a different story. But if he stayed at the scene, there would be little the law could do to him besides deport him.
Yeah, rumor has it they think they might even have to deport him.
Oh, and WESH, sharpen your reporting skills, such as they are. Huge gaps of relevant information here.
And the correct term is illegal alien
I didn't say anything about murder. I said manslaughter, a different charge than murder.
Was he driving recklessly? If not, same answer.
"I feel depressed because I am poor,"
Ping
I'm tired of illegals
I'm tired of my government allowing illegals
I'm tired of a lot of things
My time will come
"I feel depressed because I am poor," Gonzalez said through a translator"
Depressed because he's poor???? Shouldn't he actually feel suicidal after causing the death of another person?
All I see is it is all about him. Not what happened and that someone is dead as a result.
Haven't bothered to learn English yet?
"I am the only one who provides for my family, so I don't know what's going to happen with them," he said.
Don't worry Miguel. I'm sure us taxpayers will take care of them.
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