January 13, 2023
Kent Keller, PIO
Greeley Police Department
(970) 351-5387, Desk
[email protected]
GREELEY, Colo. – On Thursday, January, 12, 2023, at 8:00 p.m., officers with the Evans Police Department initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle near 35th Avenue and 37th Street, in Evans. The vehicle fled the traffic stop and a pursuit was initiated as the vehicle was believed to be occupied by a wanted suspect. The pursuit initially traveled west before the suspects began driving eastbound on Highway 34 into Greeley.
The Evans Police Department requested assistance from the Greeley Police Department. Officers from the Greeley Police Department assisted in the pursuit as it entered Greeley at 11th Avenue and Highway 34. Shortly after, a Greeley Police officer utilized a tire deflation device, known as a Stop Stick, in order slowly deflate the vehicle’s tires to end the pursuit safely.
The suspects continued fleeing from officers despite a tire being completely shredded away. At approximately 8:16 p.m. the suspect’s lost control of the vehicle and slid into the front yard of a home at Balsam Avenue and East 24th Street, in Greeley. The two people in the vehicle were identified as Raymond Ortega, 24-years-old, and a 22-year-old female passenger. Ortega had four warrants (2 felony warrants and 2 misdemeanor warrants) for his arrest and was taken into custody without incident.
Officers utilized a K9 Team in addition to the Greeley Police Department Drone Unit to ensure no other suspects were in the vehicle. Ortega was transported to the Weld County Jail and booked in. In addition to the warrants, Ortega was charged with aggravated motor vehicle theft, vehicular eluding, and reckless driving.
No additional information will be released today.