September 27, 2024

Aurora police arrest Venezuelan gang member on outstanding warrants

The man was arrested Wednesday night. He was previously identified as a member of Tren de Aragua.

AURORA, Colo. — The Aurora Police Department (APD) announced they arrested another member of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) Thursday.

Police said they arrested the man Wednesday night on two outstanding warrants out of Adams and Arapahoe district courts. He was taken in by the Aurora Police Department Gang Intervention Unit, and was in custody in Aurora on a no bond hold as of Thursday afternoon.

The suspect is one of 10 documented TdA gang members that APD released information about earlier this month. Police said eight of those gang members have been arrested for various crimes including shootings, assaults and menacing incidents.

Police and the city have been pushing back on claims that the city has been “taken over” by TdA members. Former President Donald Trump repeated those claims during his Sep. 10 debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, claims the city of Aurora refuted.

The man arrested Wednesday night is charged with aggravated first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, third-degree assault and felony menacing in Adams district court. The charges stem from an April 4 dispute and assault over unpaid rent money in the 1600 block of Lima Street, where the building’s landlord said he was attacked, stabbed with a knife and tied up, according to the arrest affidavit. 

The suspect was previously arrested on April 17 in connection with the Lima Street investigation, Aurora police said, but posted $20,000 bond in that case. Police said they issued a warrant for his arrest later when he failed to appear in court.

The man faces charges of felony menacing, illegal discharge of a firearm, harassment and reckless endangerment in Arapahoe district court. Those stem from a nonfatal shooting on June 28 in the 400 block of Nile Street, police said. According to the arrest affidavit in that case, the man fire shots into a house on Nile Street after an argument with the homeowner.

APD said their investigations are active and ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867).

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