Sergeant Michael Kunovich

Michael Kunovich

Sergeant Michael Kunovich suffered a fatal heart attack following a violent struggle with a man in the 2500 block of State Road 16 in St. Augustine.

The man was sitting in the dark outside of a closed business when Sergeant Kunovich approached him at about 9:00 pm. When Sergeant Kunovich attempted to pat the man down for weapons, the subject attempted to flee. Sergeant Kunovich and other deputies struggled with the subject for over six minutes, during which the man attempted to disarm him of his taser. After the man was placed in handcuffs, he was able to access a pocket knife which had to be forcibly removed from his hands.

Sergeant Kunovich collapsed moments after the man was put in custody.

The man was charged with resisting violence and aggravated manslaughter. The charges were dropped, but he is in federal prison awaiting deportation.

Sergeant Kunovich had served with the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office for 25 years. He is survived by his two sons, mother, stepfather, two sisters, and a brother.