December 29, 2008
Posted at 5:35 p.m. Dec. 29, 2008:
CENTRAL DETECTIVES ASK FOR PUBLIC’S HELP IN FINDING MISSING MAN
Date/Time: 09/01/2008
Location: 1208 Myrtle
Missing: Gerardo Valtierra, 34 years of age, 1208 Myrtle See image to side of page
EL PASO, TEXAS – Detectives from the Central Regional Command Center are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing man. Since September, the family of 34-year old Gerardo Valtierra has not seen or heard from him. Valtierra suffers from a mental illness and has resided at 1208 Myrtle from time to time. The family of Valtierra is worried due to his illness and the fact that they have not heard from him for months which is not normal for Valtierra. He is described as a Hispanic male, 5’5” in height, 205lbs., black hair, brown eyes. If anyone has seen 34-year old Gerardo Valtierra please contact Police Communications at 832-4400.
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Posted at 5:35 p.m. Dec. 29, 2008:
Man Dies After Assaulting Officer With Knife
Date/Time: 12/26/2008 @ 10:54p.m.
Location: 9829 Socorro Rd. (Seven Eleven Store)
Victim: Officer Raul Melendez, 2 years EPPD, Mission Valley Regional Command Center
Suspect: Anthony Gonzalez, 39 years of age, 9900 block of Apodaca
EL PASO, TEXAS – Detectives have positively confirmed the identity of the man that assaulted a officer with a knife. On Friday, December 26, 2008, 39-year old Anthony Gonzalez entered the Seven-Eleven store located at 9829 Socorro Rd. Once inside he took a small keg of beer and proceeded to leave the store. Investigators learned that the suspect made a statement to the clerk as he was taking the property. At that same time, Officer Raul Melendez was conducting surveillance of the store as part of a special operation, that involved the officer working in plain clothes and unmarked unit capacity. As the clerk called police to report the incident Officer Melendez called out as he was attempting to detain Gonzalez. Officer Melendez detained Gonzalez while visibly displaying his distinctive El Paso Police Department badge and identifying himself as a police officer. Gonzalez threatened Officer Melendez with a knife. As Officer Melendez had contact with Gonzalez, he lunged at Officer Melendez with the knife. At that time, Officer Melendez with no other choice and in an attempt to protect his own life discharged his weapon striking Gonzalez. Gonzalez died at the scene. Officer Melendez was not injured in the incident. As is normal procedure in any officer involved shooting several investigations are taking place at the same time. These investigations include an investigation by Crimes Against Persons, the Shooting Review Team, the District Attorney's Office and Internal Affairs. At this time the investigation continues.
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Posted at 1 p.m. Dec. 29, 2008:
CBP officers discover drugs submerged in cans of paint
EL PASO, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers performing anti-terrorism inspections at El Paso area ports during the long Christmas holiday weekend made several drug seizures. One of the most unusual occurred December 23 when CBP officers at the El Paso port of entry discovered 61 pounds of marijuana hidden in cans of paint.
The seizure was made shortly after 7 p.m. on December 23 when a 1990 Chevrolet pickup truck entered the Bridge of the Americas international crossing from Mexico. A CBP officer at the primary inspection station noticed that the driver was nervous and initiated a thorough exam of the vehicle. While searching the truck, the CBP officer noticed that several five-gallon paint cans in the truck appeared unusual. The vehicle was selected for a secondary inspection.
During the secondary examination, CBP officers x-rayed the paint buckets and noticed anomalies in the appearance of the contents of the buckets. CBP officers opened a bucket and located numerous plastic-wrapped bundles of marijuana submerged in aqua colored paint. CBP officers removed a total of 59 marijuana-filled bundles from five large buckets of paint. The weight of the seized drugs was 61 pounds. The driver of the truck, a 36-year-old Mexican male from Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, was arrested by CBP officers and turned over to the El Paso Police Department for local prosecution.
CBP officers working at area ports of entry seized a total of 1,218 pounds of marijuana in 15 busts between December 23 and December 28. Along with the paint cans, CBP officers discovered drugs hidden in fuel tanks, seats, tires, truck bed, bumpers, quarter panels, speaker box and on the body of a border crosser. While anti-terrorism is the primary mission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the inspection process at the ports of entry associated with this mission results in impressive numbers of enforcement actions in all categories.
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Posted at 11 a.m. Dec. 29, 2008:
Link to more photos
“This is one of those nagging cases that Sheriff Samaniego and I would constantly remind our investigators to turn over every stone and find them. We ask the assistance from the general public to help us find & finally apprehend these fugitives,” said Sheriff Jimmy Apodaca, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
The trail has grown warmer: Since their initial appearance on MANHUNT MONDAY November 3, 2008- we have received information as recent as last week both men have recently frequented the area while continuing to elude capture from state & federal authorities.
PETER CALZADA-WANTED FOR:
MISCONUCT, KIDNAPPING & SEXUAL ASSAULT
Peter Calzada is a former Sheriff’s Deputy who failed to appear in court for sentencing. His Original Charge: Misconduct, sexual assault and kidnapping. Updated information indicates Calzada has gained weight & now wears his hair long.
FUGITIVE INFORMATION:
NAME: CALZADA, PETER "PETE"
DOB: 09-02-59
HEIGHT: 5'06”
WEIGHT: 180 lbs.
HAIR: Black
EYES: Brown
SCAR / TATTOOS: Scar on his right wrist
GILBERT CALZADA-WANTED OUT OF U.S. MARSHALS OFFICE IN DENVER, COLORADO FOR:
NARCOTICS & BOND REVOCATION
FUGITIVE INFORMATION:
NAME: CALZADA, GILBERT
DOB: 08-30-61
HEIGHT: 5'08”
WEIGHT: 210 lbs.
HAIR: Black
EYES: Brown (wears prescription glasses)
SCAR / TATTOOS: Scar on his abdomen & right eyebrow
Gilbert Calzada is a fugitive from the U.S. Marshals in Denver, Colorado. Original Charge: Narcotics and bond revocation.
Information received indicates the Calzada Brothers may be traveling together & could be taking advantage of the open border between Hudspeth County, Texas and Dona Ana County, New Mexico as they cross back and forth into Mexico. Authorities in West Texas, Southern New Mexico and Northern Chihuahua, Mexico are on the look out for these wanted felons.
The Calzada Bros. have many family members in El Paso, TX and it is said they have recently been spotted in the area.