WANTED FUGITIVES CAUGHT-Manhunt for 2 Violent Suspects over after anonymous TIP
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: Friday, July 18, 2008 10:30 AM
WANTED FUGITIVES CAUGHT
WHO: El Paso County Sheriff's Office (Patrol Section / Criminal Investigations Division)
WHAT: WANTED FUGITIVES CAUGHT
WHERE: 1100 Mohegan El Paso, Texas 79912
WHEN: Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 9:30 PM
WHY: Investigation continues
INFORMATION:
Late Thursday 07-17-08 at about 9:30 PM, 911 communications received an anonymous tip regarding the whereabouts of Wanted Suspects Gabriel Vasquez & Vicente Rivas. Both were wanted on outstanding criminal warrants for Obstruction & Retaliation. The tip led Law Enforcement Authorities to a residence located at 1100 Mohegan, El Paso, TX.
The El Paso Police Department quickly responded to the general area and began surveillance on the home. At about 10:15 PM officers from the El Paso Police Department (West Side Regional Command) made contact with residents of the home which included several women & children. Further investigation from EPPD revealed both wanted fugitives were inside the home. After several requests (approx. 15 minutes) by EPPD Officers for the two men to surrender, they exited the home & surrendered to EPPD Officers without incident.
Sheriff Deputies arrived at the residence a short time later where EPPD officers turned custody of the Fugitives over to Sheriff's Office Officials. CID Detectives were also summoned to the scene.
This Investigation is on-going & right now it is unknown if fugitives Vasquez & Rivas are linked to the shooting that occurred Wednesday night in the Montana Vista area.
Both Vasquez & Rivas were among four men who allegedly terrorized a mobile home park in the 4600 block of Turf Road in East El Paso County. They had been arrested on Monday night 07-14-08 on charges of engaging organized criminal activity & other multiple offenses.
Both fugitives were booked & remain at the El Paso County Detention Facility.
BELOW ARE THE RECENT BOOKING PHOTOS FROM EARLIER THIS MORNING 07-18-08
Gabriel Vasquez (28)
Charge: Obstruction or Retaliation - $100,000 Bond
Vicente Rivas (22)
Charge: Obstruction or Retaliation - $50,000 Bond
In a separate incident, while EPSO / EPPD authorities were in the Westside of town taking custody of Vasquez & Rivas. Just before midnight, Sheriff Deputies conducted a traffic stop at the 12400 block of Montana on a vehicle that had just exited Turf Rd. Deputies made contact with the driver and discovered the driver to be Matthew Ritter, one of the four men who was with Vasquez & Rivas when they allegedly terrorized a mobile home park in the 4600 block of Turf Road in East El Paso County. Ritter was among the arrested subjects on Monday night 07-14-08 on charges of engaging organized criminal activity & other multiple offenses.
During the traffic stop, it was discovered Matthew Ritter had newly issued traffic warrants for his arrest. Ritter was booked on those warrants & remains at the EPCDF under a $1,000 fine. It is unknown what Ritter was doing in the Turf area at the time of the traffic stop.
Matthew Ritter (25)