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At about 11:02 p.m. on November 12, 2024, Guttenberg officers were sent to 68th Street and Bellevue Avenue for a 911 call reporting a disturbance.

Officer Brandon Sauerwald and Detective Jaber Jaber met with a person who said he had rented a room to a female from California, but she never checked in. Instead, two males and one female with a dog tried to enter the property. When the owner denied entry, an argument followed, and one male, later identified as Brandon Lee Ortega, reportedly brandished a blue firearm.

Officers were given descriptions and canvassed the area. Officer Sauerwald found Ortega near 7000 John F. Kennedy Blvd. East. During a brief foot chase, Ortega fled and allegedly tried to carjack a driver. After the failed attempt, the driver chased Ortega.

Officer Sauerwald continued after Ortega. As the officer was approaching, Ortega climbed over a railing and fell about 68 feet. Fire and EMS responded, and Ortega was pronounced dead at the scene. A gun with a black grip and metallic blue coloring was recovered on Ortega's person.

A state grand jury later voted "no bill," and no criminal charges were filed against Officer Sauerwald.

Watch the video of this incident here.