Osceola County

Attorneys for motorcyclist burned in gas station fire ask Osceola deputies to turn case over to FDLE

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — The attorneys for a motorcyclist who was burned on more than 75% of his body after a confrontation with an Osceola County deputy are asking the sheriff’s office to turn the investigation over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement or the U.S. Justice Department.

Jean Barreto, 26, was burned from his neck to his ankles after an Osceola County deputy tackled him while he was filling up his motorcycle.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

Deputies fired a Taser at Barreto, and the state fire marshal said that sparked the flames. Deputies said Barreto was part of a group of motorcyclists who had pointed a gun at and harassed other drivers.

One of Barreto’s attorneys, Mark NeJame, said Barreto does not own a gun nor did he have a gun on him at the time of the fire. He said Barreto was filling up his bike with gas a mile from his house on his way home from a group memorial ride.

NeJame said thatalmost three months after the fire, they still have no answers from the sheriff’s office as to why Barreto was targeted at the gas station.

READ: Woman describes how stepson was badly burned in confrontation with Osceola deputies at gas station

Barreto has not been arrested or charged with any crimes. He remains hospitalized, and his attorneys said he is continuing to undergo procedures to graft skin on the majority of his body.

Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez is set to provide his own update on the case on Thursday afternoon.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.

Shannon Butler

Shannon Butler, WFTV.com

Shannon joined the Eyewitness News team in 2013.