9 Investigates: Design flaw in partition of patrol cars

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — 9 Investigates is digging deeper into the possible design flaw in Orange County deputy patrol cars after an accused killer was able to get his hands on a shot gun, twice, while handcuffed in the back pf a patrol car.

The flaw involved a small piece, on the partition, between the front and back seats.

Setina Manufacturing made the partition for the car in question, but is not responding to Channel 9’s questions about a possible flaw in the cage, but the company is working with the Sheriff's Office.

There are still no clear answers to how Jose Torres got through a Sheriff's Office car partition and grabbed two shotguns.

“Anyone who grabs a gun, someone loads a gun again, they are looking to do harm to one of our deputies, our law enforcement,” said Capt. Angelo Nieves of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

On Wednesday, the Sheriff's Office said the investigation is still underway to figure out how it all happened.

But a bigger issue could be what the Sheriff's Office said is a possible defect in the patrol car's cage.

Someone who took a look at the SUV just after the incident with Torres told Channel 9 reporter Shannon Butler that a small 8x4 plastic piece on the side of the cage was broken by Torres while he was in the back seat.

The source called it a design flaw, but said this has never happened at the Sheriff's Office before, and was not a known issue by any deputies.

The source said this happened because of a perfect storm—the guns were inside the car, he was alone and he had his hands handcuffed in front of him.

But law enforcement said the cages are meant to keep law enforcement safe and should be indestructible from the back seat.

Several Central Florida agencies said they have Setina Manufacturing partitions in their cars, including the Lake County and Seminole County sheriff’s officer.

The Orlando Police Department and the Osceola County Sheriff's Office do not use that manufacturer.

And of the ones who do use Setina Manufacturing, they say they have never had that type of issue.

Law enforcement from several agencies said after the first time he had his hands moved from the back to the front, the deputies should have "hobbled him"

That means, they use an extra nylon restraint on the legs and can anchor them to the outside of the car.

That would have prevented him from grabbing a second gun.

Cox Media Group