Bond Denied for 3 Officers Held in Deaths
A judge denied bond Saturday for three police officers charged with first-degree murder in connection with a triple slaying during an alleged cocaine rip-off, described in an affidavit as one in a series committed by the officers.
Circuit Judge Robert H. Newman set another hearing for the men Thursday. He also denied bond for a fourth officer who, along with the others, was charged with racketeering, armed trafficking in cocaine and aggravated battery.
Friday’s arrests followed investigations by Metro-Dade County Police, the FBI and Miami Police into the deaths of three men whose bodies were found in the Miami River on July 29. Witnesses said six men dived into the river the previous day after talking with “men in blue” and that three drowned.
Witnesses said the officers had guns drawn and were trying to steal a shipment of cocaine.
The three officers charged with murder are Armando Estrada, 26, Roman Rodriguez, 29, and Armando Garcia, 23. Arturo de la Vega, 26, was the fourth officer arrested.
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