A man who tackled an undercover University of Central Florida police officer moments before the officer was fatally shot outside the Florida Citrus Bowl last year pleaded no contest Tuesday in an effort to avoid an emotional trial.
Michael Young, 25, will be sentenced Dec. 14 for battery on a law-enforcement officer and obstruction of justice. He faces up to five years in prison, but his attorney, Diana Tennis, hopes he will get probation, she said.
Young, who was tailgating before the football game with friends, tackled UCF police Officer Mario Jenkins as he tried to arrest a drunken reveler Sept. 24, 2005.
Jenkins, 29, was in plainclothes, working undercover to crack down on underage drinking among tailgaters. The four-year veteran of UCF police attempted to check the ID of a man who ran off. Jenkins followed with his badge dangling from a chain around his neck, according to officials.
That’s when Young, who officials said knew Jenkins was a cop, grabbed him in a bearhug, and they fell to the ground, according to reports. Jenkins fired his gun in the air.
Orlando police reserve Officer Dennis Smith heard the pop and saw tailgaters running away. He pulled his gun out and approached the scene.
Smith noticed one man lying on the ground and another in a green shirt — later identified as Jenkins — standing with a black semi-automatic handgun pointed at the man.
Because the police agencies hadn’t communicated clearly with each other ahead of time, Smith did not know Jenkins was working undercover.
“The man in the green became aware of my presence . . . .and he started turning, and I saw the handgun rising,” Smith told investigators Sept. 30, 2005. “And as it started up, I fired once. Didn’t seem to have any effect. He seemed to continue turning. The firearm still came up. I fired a second round.”
Jenkins fired back before falling to the ground.
At some point, Young was shot in the abdomen. He later recovered.
Outside the courtroom Tuesday, Tennis said she felt confident a jury would have acquitted Young of the charges, but “Michael wanted this to be over.”
Tennis also said Young’s defense would have included UCF police and Jenkins’ actions that day. In January, state investigators released a report on the shooting that referred to police errors and misjudgments that contributed to incident. The report cited that Jenkins had no back-up officer, no radio to call for help, no pepper spray, Taser or baton to use instead of a gun. UCF police, Orlando police and the state Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco did not coordinate before the game to allow officers to meet one another.
The incident sparked changes in UCF game-day police operations, including no more plainclothes officers.
Assistant State Attorney Wayne Wooten said Young’s decision to change his plea was important.
“We’re happy to see Mr. Young is willing to take responsibility for his part,” he said. “It’s important for this community to heal.”
