Posted on 10/17/2014 6:19:00 AM PDT by TankerKC
The district attorney for the 16th Judicial District told a crowd Tuesday night that the investigation into an officer-involved shooting in Rocky Ford will take time.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is working with the 16th Judicial District Attorney's Office and the 16th Judicial District's Critical Incident to investigate an officer-involved shooting in Rocky Ford.
District Attorney Jim Bullock said he attended Tuesday's meeting to reassure city council and Rocky Ford residents that the right steps are being taken in this investigation to find answers.
He said he understands the community wants answers, but it will take time.
"To release information could result in misinformation and so I think for us to make an informed decision, we need to know what all the facts are and until the investigation is completed we really can't make any judgement," said Bullock.
Mariah Jacquez said her fiance, Jack Jacquez, was shot at his home on 3rd Street near Swink Avenue Sunday morning. He was taken to the hospital where he died.
Investigators are working to investigate what happened prior to the shooting.
The Rocky Ford police officer involved in the shooting, James Ashby, is on administrative leave pending the investigation. Rocky Ford's police chief said his lawyers have advised him not to comment at this point. The police chief said Ashby would also not be available for comment on this case.
Mariah Jacquez said she is four months pregnant with Jack Jacquez's child. Doctors told her Monday that the baby is a girl.
Sara Lindenmuth is the victim's sister-in-law. She said Jack Jacquez came home just before 2 a.m. Then, she said a police officer forced down the front door and the two men started shouting.
"He was standing next to his mom, his back turned toward the officer and then he shot him twice in the back and then pepper sprayed him. Then they handcuffed his fiancé, for reasons I don't know why. And the mom went to call the cops and the cop took her phone and threw it against the wall," said Lindenmuth.
Mariah Jacquez said one of the shots fired almost hit her. She said she and her soon-to-be mother-in-law were handcuffed but didn't know why.
The victim's family is left with a lot of questions for police.
"He just showed up. No one knows why he just showed up. It just all happened unexpectedly," said Lindenmuth.
Jack Jacquez has a criminal record in Colorado. His rap sheet includes arrests for possession of drugs, theft, driving under the influence and other traffic offenses.
Officer Ashby joined Rocky Ford's Police Department in June. He previously worked for Walsenburg Police Department. According to his LinkedIn profile, he served in the Navy.
Brian Otero said he is shocked by what happened to his neighbor.
"We are neighbors, of course, and he was a good kid. I don't see anything on his side that would prompt the officer to shoot him," said Otero.
He said he found out through social media what happened to Jacquez. He said people working at a hospital posted on social media that Jacquez had been shot.
"You know it is a small community so they let people know he had been shot in the back so when I heard that it was shocking that he would be shot in the back and that would be justifiable on the police's part," said Otero.
Danny Whatley lives down the street from the home where the shooting took place. He said he didn't hear gunshots but he learned of the news early Sunday. "It's just getting worse and worse every day, it seems like," said Whatley. "I don't know what to think."
Bullock said Rocky Ford Police Department alerted local law enforcement agencies within 30 minutes of the shots being fire. Bullock said the police department followed protocol previously established by law enforcement in the area.
The cops aren't saying anything yet.
The cop worked for 5 years in another town 70 mi to the south west. His tenure there was marked by multiple citizens' complaints about aggressive behavior. He had been working in Rocky Ford for 5 months.
Looks like the victim was no angel.
Rocky Ford is in Southeastern Colorado.
ROCKY FORD — Police Chief Frank Gallegos said Tuesday that he and his police department have the same questions the community does about what transpired the night a police officer shot and killed a 27-year-old man.
Snip
“We have the same questions as the community. I know it looks bad when there are statements going around that he was shot in the back and that the officer did this and this. I can’t say if it is true or if it is not true because I am not privy to the investigation at this point.”
And home to some of the best cantaloupes on earth...
What are they, first cousins getting married?
They already have the same last name.
Sounds like everyone involved was some sort of idiot.
Yep. Home of the Meloneers.
Funny you should say that. Growing up there, we joked that everyone was a cousin of some sort.
Really? The Rocky Ford Meloneers?
That goes down with the...
Groesbeck (TX) Goats
Knippa (TX) Rockcrushers
Itascsa (TX) Wampus Cats
Hutto (TX) Hippos
Hoopeston (IL) Corn Jerkers
and the
Shoals (IN) Jug Rox
http://www.koaa.com/news/rocky-ford-police-officer-involved-in-fatal-shooting-arrested/
Officer Arrested and Charged with 2nd Degree Murder.
Rocky Ford police officer James Ashby is facing second degree murder charges in the shooting death of Jack Jacquez. (Colorado Bureau of Investigation)
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