4 arrested on Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity-Drugs-Assault charges
El Paso County Sheriff's Office
3850 Justice Dr. El Paso, Texas 79938
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Deputy Jesse Tovar / Public Information Officer
Direct: (915) 538-2223
Pager: (915) 533-0733 (#5370)
Release Date & Time: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 11:00 AM
WHO: El Paso County Sheriff's Office (Lower Valley Patrol)
WHAT: 4 arrested on Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity- Drug- Weapons charges
WHERE: 4600 block of Turf El Paso County, Texas 79938
WHEN: Monday, July 14, 2008 at 10:15 PM
WHY: Arrests Made / Investigation continues
INFORMATION:
Late Wednesday night 07-14-08, at approximately 10:15 PM Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to a mobile home park located in the 4600 block of Turf in reference to a road rage / aggravated assault with a gun call. Apparently sometime after 10:00 PM a black Cadillac Escalade with 2 male occupants entered the mobile home park at a high rate of speed. They were met by 3 residents of the park and a confrontation ensued. According to one of the residents / Victims, the male subjects exited the black Escalade, walked over to their location where one of them punched him in the face. The other subject then pulled a handgun from the waistband of his pants, and pointed it at them. The residents then claimed 2 other male subjects who were acquaintances of the suspects exited a nearby mobile home & came over to their location. The residents claimed that one of those male subjects who walked over also pulled a gun from behind his back waist band and pointed it at them. The residents / Victims stated they immediately scrambled for cover behind vehicles. The Victims stated the 2 initial suspects got back into the black Escalade & the other 2 suspects got into a green Jeep and all sped off towards Montana.
Responding Sheriff Deputies spotted both fleeing vehicles traveling on Montana Ave. and initiated felony traffic stops on both vehicles. All subjects were taken into custody and both vehicles were searched but no weapons were located. However, Deputies discovered a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the black Cadillac Escalade. Deputies requested a K-9 unit to the location of the traffic stop. The K-9 unit arrived a short time later where the K-9 gave a positive alert to the front dash area of the SUV. Deputies located a small bag of marijuana in the front panel area.
Further Investigation revealed all four subjects were acting together, and committed the crime of Aggravated Assault, therefore they engaged in an organized criminal activity.
All four were arrested & identified as:
1.) Gabriel Vasquez (28) of the 700 block of Brandywine El Paso, TX
2.) Vicente Rivas (22) of the 14900 block of Margaret Jean El Paso, TX
3.) Albert Guider (25) of 3437 W 74th St. Chicago, IL.
4.) Matthew Ritter (25) of the 13100 block of Soleen El Paso, TX
The 2003 black Cadillac Escalade was occupied by Vasquez (driver) & Rivas.
The 1997 green Jeep Cherokee was occupied by Guider (driver) & Ritter.
All four were arrested on multiple charges, booked and remain at the El Paso County Detention Facility.
Gabriel Vasquez (28)
Charges:
- Aggravated assault w/ Deadly Weapon (firearm)- $25,000 Bond
- Possession of Marijuana >2 oz. <4 oz. - $600 Bond
- Engaged in Organized Criminal Activity - $5,000 Bond
Vicente Rivas (22)
Charges:
- Assault causing bodily injury - $5,000 Bond
- Possession of Marijuana >2 oz. <4 oz. - $600 Bond
- Engaged in Organized Criminal Activity - $5,000 Bond
- 5 outstanding EPSO traffic warrants totaling: $1,363.10
Albert Guider (25)
Charges:
- Aggravated assault w/ Deadly Weapon (firearm)- $25,000 Bond
- Engaged in Organized Criminal Activity - $5,000 Bond
Matthew Ritter (25)
Charge:
Engaged in Organized Criminal Activity - $5,000 Bond
No other information is available at this time. This case remains under investigation.