By Sharon Aron Baron
A Parkland man seen on video striking a security guard for taking too long to let him into his neighborhood had his plea hearing on Tuesday.
Joaquin PE Fagundo, 46, and his criminal defense attorney Adam Harmelin appeared before Judge Barbara Duffy. On January 4, Fagundo was arrested for burglary with assault or battery after a verbal altercation with a security guard turned physical.
It happened when he and his wife were entering their community of Cascata. After the security guard took possession of his ID card for verification, Fagundo and his wife became impatient with the amount of time he was taking and entered the guardhouse to obtain the ID card.
The security guard returned the ID card to Fagundo’s wife and asked them to leave the guardhouse. The video shows Fagundo becoming physical after reentering the guardhouse, striking the guard with an open palm on the back of his head. The impact caused the guard’s head to hit the glass door, leaving a bruise on the right side of his forehead.
On Tuesday, Harmelin said the charges were now reduced to burglary of an unoccupied structure and misdemeanor battery.
Harmelin entered Fagundo’s plea of not guilty, and Judge Duffy set his calendar call for June 17 to set a trial date.
Send your news to Parkland’s #1 news source, Parkland Talk.
Author Profile
Related
NewsOctober 16, 2026Six Parkland Students Selected as Mayors for a Month
NewsOctober 14, 2026ALMOST SOLD OUT: Not My Daughter Celebrates Courage and Hope at 17th Annual Luncheon
NewsOctober 14, 2026Parkland Farmers’ Market Returns Nov. 1 With Fresh Finds and Local Vendors
NewsOctober 13, 2026Marjory Stoneman Douglas Drama’s Falloween Brings Candy Land Fun and Spooky Surprises Oct. 17
