KISSIMMEE, Fla. – A brawl behind bars ended with both inmates injured and each facing an additional criminal charge.
A correctional officer in Florida said she “was doing paperwork when she heard commotion within her assigned cell block” on the evening of Nov. 8, and “noticed two inmates were physically engaged in a fight.
“[The officer] requested assistance and eventually [the] inmates were separated,” the charging affidavit continued. “[The officer] did not observe how the fight began, who initiated the fight, nor does she know any details regarding what caused the fight.”
Surveillance video answered those questions after a sheriff’s deputy called to the jail asked both prisoners what happened.
Angel Zabriel Perez-Figueroa, labeled “victim” in the affidavit, “observed inmate Shawn Edward-David Grew (arrestee) stand up from and approach him while making threats to kill him, and telling him to go to his cell.
“Angel walked backwards and told Shawn not to approach him in an aggressive manner, stating ‘don’t come to me like that’ to Shawn. Angel also asked Shawn why he wanted to fight, and Shawn responded by telling Angel that nobody liked him, they did not want him there, and that he wants to kill him. Angel continued to walk backwards and Shawn continued to follow. Angel refused to follow commands issued to him by Shawn, and Angel advised that Shawn was approximately six or seven steps away from him.
“Angel was subsequently punched by Shawn, and Angel proceeded to defend himself by punching Shawn back and scratching his neck, as he told Shawn to not fight him anymore. Shortly after, correctional officers became involved and separated them.
“Angel had multiple injuries,” the deputy found, “to include bruises and lacerations on his hands. No other injuries were observed on Angel. Angel was treated for his injuries by on-site medical personnel,” and he “expressed his desire to press charges for this incident.”
Then, the deputy wrote, “Shawn advised that Angel had been starting altercations with several other inmates for the past several days. Shawn came past Angel in order to go to his seat, and Shawn advised that is when Angel ‘started with him’ by staring at him and talking about him.
“Shawn could not advise what Angel was saying about him due to Angel talking in Spanish. Shawn stated he told Angel not to mess with him and when Angel out [sic] his hand on Shawn’s face, Shawn felt threatened and defended himself.
“Shawn advised he would want to press charges,” as his adversary did, but this time, the deputy “read Shawn his Miranda rights” and “Shawn did not wish to speak further on the matter.”
The deputy did write, “I observed Shawn had red marks, bruises, and lacerations to his face and neck area,” and he, too, “was treated for his injuries by on-site medical personnel.”
Finally, the deputy watched “video surveillance footage” and reported seeing “Angel standing near the stairs inside the cell block when Shawn approaches him aggressively and raises his hand, putting his finger on Angel’s face as he pointed at him. Shawn stood within arm’s reach of Angel.
“Angel can be seen walking backwards and raises an arm away from Shawn. Shawn then appears to disengage and create some distance between himself and Angel, only to return and approach Angel once more, again pointing his finger.
“Shawn can then be observe[d] punching Angel multiple times. Angel proceeds to defend himself and initially responds by punching back. Both inmates continue to fight and at one point it appears Angel is attempting to hold Shawn back to prevent him from continuing to hit him.
“Shawn appears to be making attempts to continue to strike Angel. Shortly after, correctional officers become involve[d] and get both inmates separated.”
Despite only reading Grew his rights, the deputy determined both inmates were “in violation” of the law against battery, touch or strike.
Grew, 48, had been charged with trafficking in methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia in May. He and a woman were in a hotel room when authorities investigating a burglary executed a search warrant.
A lieutenant “approached the room and knocked on the door where he observed [them] from the open window curtain,” the arrest report said, “lying in a bed.”
When the lieutenant knocked, “He observed both subjects get up from the bed and began shoving bags into the couch next to the bed. Upon opening the door, detectives observed the burglary suspects [sic] clothing in the room and a baggie of a cloudy crystallized substance on a dresser by the door.
“During the execution of the search warrant, detectives located approximately 71.88 grams of the same crystallized substance stuffed in the couch. The original crystallized substance observed weighed approximately 2.81 grams along with clear ziplock baggies, a scale, and a glass pipe. Three white rock-like substances were located inside of a dresser next to the bed.”
Both suspects denied any involvement with the narcotics.
Perez-Figueroa, 23, was charged with battery on law enforcement and resisting without violence in May, after not “willingly go to the hospital in order to be mentally evaluated due to the suspect not wanting to take his medications,” the arrest report said.
Then, two days before the fight in jail, he was found incompetent to stand trial and ordered “committed to the state hospital for restoration of competency.”
His case is considered “closed,” yet a “competency status hearing” is scheduled for April 9.
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