SWAT call-out after shots are fired at Sheriff Deputies
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: Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:15 AM
WHO: El Paso County Sheriff's Office (Lower Valley Patrol / S.W.A.T. 
)
WHAT: SWAT CALL-OUT as shots are fired at Sheriff Deputies
WHERE: Mobile home park-4600 block of Turf / Desert area near Turf & Montana El Paso County, Texas 79938
WHEN: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 11:14 PM
WHY: Investigation continues
Late Wednesday night, 07-16-08 at 11:14 PM Sheriff Deputies were responding to a disturbance / possible subject with a gun call in the area of a mobile home park located at 4600 Turf (near Montana Ave.) Being familiar with several on-going disturbances at the mobile home park, several Sheriff's Office patrol units responded. Deputies were approaching to the location of occurrence through the desert area between the mobile home park & Evergreen cemetery when they encountered multiple subjects in the darkness of the desert area. Deputies identified themselves when suddenly shots rang out in their direction. Deputies could not clearly see the whereabouts of the subjects due to extensive darkness. Deputies took cover behind a dirt embankment and called for back-up. Within 2 minutes a large perimeter was set around the immediate desert area which included Evergreen cemetery & the mobile home park. At the time, it was believed the subjects fled into a mobile home at the park. A perimeter was set up around the home & SWAT was summoned.
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office SWAT & members of the Crisis Negotiation Team TEAMS arrived a short time later. After CNT made several attempts to establish contact with the residents of the mobile home, the SWAT Team made entry, cleared & secured the residence. No occupants were found in the home. Neighbors were evacuated as a precaution prior to the SWAT Teams entry. No injuries or extensive damage were reported in the incident.
Earlier in the evening at about 6:00 PM Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to the same mobile home park as residents reported threats were being made against them. Residents advised responding Deputies that the same 2 male subjects who they had an altercation with two nights earlier on 07-14-08 had returned and threatened them for calling the police during the previous incident.
The residents identified the male subjects who returned & threatened them as:
Gabriel Vasquez (28) of the 700 block of Brandywine El Paso, TX and
Vicente Rivas (22) of the 14900 block of Margaret Jean El Paso, TX
Gabriel Vasquez (28) Vicente Rivas (22)
Both are currently out on Bond. Charges were filed and both subjects now have outstanding criminal warrants for Obstruction or Retaliation (3rd degree felony). A handgun was used by Vasquez & Rivas in the 1st incident but were not found. The Sheriff's Office is asking if anyone knows the whereabouts of Gabriel Vasquez or Vicente Rivas please call the Sheriff's Office at (915) 546-2280 or Crime Stoppers at (915) 566-TIPS (8477). Both Vasquez & Rivas are considered armed & dangerous.
Background:
Late Monday 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 for multiple offenses.
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
Albert Guider (25) remains at EPCDF
Matthew Ritter (25) is currently out on bond
Information received indicates Vasquez & Rivas may have previously visited or stayed at the same residence where EPSO SWAT made entry. An Investigation continues .