The family of Salaythis Melvin, shot dead five years ago by an Orange County deputy while running away, has settled its lawsuit against the Sheriff’s Office for $1 million and an apology letter from the former deputy who killed him.
The money will be paid by the Florida Sheriffs Risk Management Fund on behalf of James Montiel, who was relieved of duty without pay by the Sheriff’s Office for charges unrelated to Melvin’s death. The office admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement, according to the agreement’s terms obtained by the Orlando Sentinel but first reported by WKMG.
Melvin, 22, was killed in a parking at the Florida Mall on Aug. 7, 2020, after deputies in plain clothes and unmarked vehicles descended upon a group he was with. The deputies were seeking to arrest another man who w