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https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2023/05/20/man-charged-with-murder-in-connection-with-sjc-deputy-death/

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. The St. Johns County Sheriffs Office has arrested a man for murder after an altercation led to the death of Sergeant Michael Kunovich.
Vergilio Aguilar Mendez, 18, is charged with resisting with violence and felony murder. He is currently being held without bond.

Mendezs immigration status is also in question; SJSO is working with Homeland Security to verify his identity and immigration status.
According to SJSO, Sgt. Kunovich spotted Mendez sitting outside of a closed business on State Road 16 in St. Augustine around 9 p.m. Friday.
Sgt. Kunovich made contact with Mendez and tried to complete a pat down for weapons, but investigators say Mendez then pulled away from Sgt. Kunovich and attempted to run away.

Sgt. Michael Kunovich (WJXT)
Additional deputies arrived on the scene and Mendez continued to violently resist for more than six minutes. He also attempted to grab Sgt. Kunovichs taser while fighting on the ground.

Deputies were eventually able to handcuff Mendez and he ended up pulling out a pocketknife, which had to be forcefully removed by deputies.
Sgt. Kunovich collapsed moments after Mendez was disarmed and was transported to Flagler Hospital where he was pronounced deceased after a short time.
Officers gathered for a prayer and lined the street to pay their respects as the 25-year veteran of the department left the hospital.
This has been a difficult time for our agency with the loss of one of our own. I want to thank St. Johns Fire Rescue, Flagler Health+, and our agency personnel for their lifesaving efforts on Sergeant Kunovich. I ask that you please respect the family and members of the St. Johns County Sheriffs Office as we mourn the loss of Sergeant Kunovich, said Sheriff Robert Hardwick.

Other local law enforcement agencies have also sent their condolences.
Sheriff T.K Waters of the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office said, Its a very very sad day. He also offered all the resources JSO has available and whatever the SJSO may need to help support Sgt. Kunovich and his family.

A loss like that is unexpected. Its tragic and really brings it home quite a bit. Were here as brothers, whether it be brothers and sisters in blue, brothers and sisters in green, whether its troopers, were here for one another and were going to offer our support and make sure we prop them up and hold them up, said Sheriff Waters.
News4JAX also reached out to our Crime and Safety Analyst Lakesha Burton who talked about how important it is to get support from other law enforcement agencies during a tragedy such as this.
It is everything. Again, this police officer signed up to serve and protect, I think that is the common thread among all police officers, they have this calling to serve and protect, and you always go through your career not wanting to be that person who died in the line of duty. I think it speaks to how honorable this profession is. This sergeant is a hero, Burton said.

Burton also talked about what the next steps are for SJSO.
This will be handled like any other officer-involved death. It is very complex, very detail oriented, so what the investigators want to do is process the scene, collect as much evidence as possible and witnesses because what they want to do is put together this incident and see what actually happened so they can determine what the outcome is going to be as a relates to the individual, the suspect, that was engaged in this incident, Burton added.
Burton asks the community to be patient as the SJSO continues its investigation.
Every day that a police officer puts on that uniform and goes to work, they are at risk. But in this situation its very heartbreaking because this Sergeant has dedicated and risked his life for over 25 years, not even having an opportunity to retire. So its very heartbreaking and again we should be mourning the death of this hero and really putting things in perspective. You know how dangerous this job is and the dangers that law enforcement officers face every day.

Funeral arrangements are said to be announced soon.
The SJSO also placed two flower sprays in the shape of badges at the front entrance and lowered the American flag half-staff for the fallen officer.