CHANDLER, AZ — Arnold Serrano was sentenced to 15 years in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated assault stemming from a police shooting, pursuit, and serious crash last year.
Serrano was the suspect shot by Chandler Police Department on July 24, 2021, and then caused a massive crash that injured 10 people, two of them critically.
Disclaimer: Andy Ramirez and his wife, Norma, were the most seriously injured. Andy is an employee of ABC15 and continues to recover at home from his injuries.
On Thursday the Ramirez family addressed Serrano. They explained the intense physical and emotional pain the crash has caused.
"Andy has so much metal in his body, he truly is my man of steel," said Norma Ramirez. "Some days are incredibly hard though, Andy sometimes struggles to get a sentence out. Our girls are still recovering while being our caregivers. And neither of us has been able to go back to work."
The family also told Serrano that they forgave him.
"In the hospital, I could tell by the police presence that you were nearby," said Norma, addressing the defendant directly. "I said a prayer for my husband, my daughters...and you, Arnold Serrano."
When Serrano addressed the court, he said he was "deeply sorry" and that he had no idea the extent to which the crash victims were injured.
"I pray every night for them to forgive me, and I do pray for them as well," said Serrano. "I appreciate her praying for me when I was in the hospital."
Norma said, "Just as I did that first night, I will continue to pray for you."
While the criminal case involving Serrano has wrapped up, there are still multiple legal matters.
The Ramirez family has filed a $19 million notice of claim, having to do with how Chandler officers handled the shooting and subsequent high-speed pursuit.
The Maricopa County Attorney has also not reviewed the police shooting to determine if the Lieutenant will face criminal charges.
As ABC15 reported, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office currently has a year-long backlog of officer-involved shootings waiting to be criminally reviewed. The office's 'Critical Incident Review Team' has 59 submitted cases where families, officers, police departments, and the public are waiting to find out if the officer will be cleared or charged.
