Category: Top Story

Hundreds of people, including officers from Florida and beyond, gathered at St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Johns County to honor Sergeant Michael Kunovich, a veteran St. Johns County sheriff’s officer who collapsed and died on May 19 after a struggle with a suspect. Kunovich’s two sons talked about how proud they were of their father and how he always stressed the importance of not letting work consume one’s life. Officers from Hillsborough County, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Green Cove Springs, Flagler County, and other departments joined Kunovich’s colleagues for the service. The suspect, identified as 18-year-old Vergilio Aguilar Mendez, has…

St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick revealed new details about the death of Sergeant Michael Kunovich. Kunovich had interacted with Vergilio Aguilar Mendez, who has been charged with capital homicide and resisting arrest. Mendez is reportedly homeless and living in the country illegally. The new information explains why Kunovich and Aguila Mendez interacted. According to the Sheriff, Kunovich was interacting with Mendez after a report of trespassing. Kunovich attempted to conduct a patdown of Mendez, who refused to comply and tried to remove a knife from his pocket. A struggle followed, during which Mendez grabbed Kunovich’s taser. After handcuffing Mendez,…

The St. Johns County Sheriffs Office has officially released details on the funeral arrangements for fallen Sergeant Michael Kunovich – ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FL, MAY 22, 2023 – On the evening of May 19, 2023, while on duty with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, Sergeant Michael Kunovich died in the line of duty. Sergeant Kunovich was a 25-year member of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and most recently served as a Sergeant in the Central Region. He worked in various capacities to include as a Reserve Deputy before coming on board full-time, a Senior Law Enforcement Deputy, a…