Blog: Aurora Police News

Aurora Police News

Our blog has MOVED. Please go to: https://www.auroragov.org/residents/public_safety/police/APD_news.

News releases will also be published to our social media channels:
Twitter - @AuroraPD
Facebook - AuroraCOPD
Next Door - Aurora Police Department

The Aurora Police News Blog was created in 2016 as a new way to share news and information from the Aurora Police Department with the community we serve. It is maintained by the staff of the Public Information Officer.

Public Information Officer Staff:

Sergeant Faith Goodrich - Unit Supervisor
Agent Matthew Longshore - Public Information Officer
Joe Moylan - Public Information Officer
Sydney Edwards - Public Information Officer

To reach a member of the Public Information Officer call 720.432.5095 or email [email protected]. If you are a member of the public and you have a question, general request, comment or concern, please email [email protected].

Colorado Criminal Justice Records (CCJRA) can be obtained by completing an electronic request using our new NextRequest Portal.

Stay connected and informed by signing up for blog e-mail alerts and by following us on our social media sites: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Nextdoor.

The men and women of the Aurora Police Department are committed to making a Aurora a safer place everyday.

DISCLAIMER: Information is subject to change as case investigations proceed. Individuals arrested on the basis of probable cause have not been charged. All arrestees are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Recent Posts

Officer Involved Shooting on North Idalia Court

On February 11, 2022, at approximately 4:38 a.m., the Aurora Police Department responded to a report of an adult male armed with a gun at the La Fontaine Apartments, located at 1325 N Idalia Ct. Multiple callers advised the male was going door to door and displaying a gun. The male was described as a Hispanic male, wearing a black hoodie.

Upon arrival, officers located the male outside the apartment complex matching the description provided by the callers. Officers gave numerous commands for the male to put his hands up in English and Spanish. The male didn’t comply with the officer’s commands which led to shots being fired by the officers, striking the male. Medical assistance was immediately called for and provided by the officers. Once paramedics arrived, the male was pronounced deceased on the scene.

The two Aurora Police Officers who fired their weapons were equipped with department-issued body cameras, which will be used in this ongoing investigation. They have both been placed on paid administrative leave per department policy.

The Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) for the 18th Judicial District responded and will be investigating this officer-involved shooting incident. The CIRT Team conducts independent, multi-agency investigations into officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths that occur in Arapahoe, Douglas, and Elbert County.

The Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office will release the name of the 31-year-old suspect after positive identification and notification of next of kin.

We are requesting all members of the public who were a witness to the events leading up to and after the officer-involved shooting to please contact Aurora Police.

Tweet from Chief of Police Wilson regarding this morning’s officer involved shooting.

Officer Francisco Saucedo
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095

Posted by [email protected] On Feb 11, 2022 at 9:56 AM

Homicide Suspect Killed After Officer Involved Shooting

On February 9, 2022, at approximately 3:45 p.m., the Aurora Police Department responded to reports of a shooting at 820 North Dayton Street. Information obtained was that a suspect pulled out a gun on numerous people and fired shots in the parking lot, striking a 26-year old man. Immediately following that shooting, the suspect forcefully stole a vehicle at gunpoint in that parking lot. The suspect then left the scene and got into a hit and run accident at East 13th Avenue and North Dayton Street at approximately 3:57 p.m.

At approximately 4:10 p.m., the Aurora Police Department began to receive calls about an armed robbery at a liquor store, located at 728 North Peoria Street. As officers arrived, they were given a suspect and vehicle description that identically matched the suspect and the vehicle he stole.

Just a few minutes later, at approximately 4:30 p.m. the Aurora Police Department responded to another vehicle forcefully taken at gunpoint near Interstate 225 and South Parker Road. The suspect description, including the vehicle that was abandoned, identically matched what was given from the liquor store robbery. By the time officers arrived, the suspect was no longer on scene.
Approximately 4:40 p.m., Two District 3 Patrol Officers, riding in the same vehicle, were in the area of South Parker Road and East Jamison Avenue. Officers spotted the vehicle that was taken by gunpoint a few miles away near Interstate 225 and South Parker Road. After observing the vehicle going eastbound on East Jamison Avenue, The Officers activated their emergency lights and siren, the vehicle stopped, and shots were fired. The suspect was then transported to the hospital where he died from his injuries. There were no injuries to any of the officers. A gun was recovered from the scene.

The Arapahoe County Coroner's Office will confirm the suspects identity. It is believed that the deceased is Jose De Jesus Montoya-Villa. He is the suspect in the shooting that happened at the Iglesia Faro De Luz Church on Friday night. Investigators from the Major Crimes Homicide Unit and the Fugitive Apprehension and Surveillance Team have been working tirelessly to apprehend the suspect since Friday night's homicide.

The Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) for the 18th Judicial District responded and will be investigating this officer involved shooting incident. The CIRT Team conducts independent, multi-agency investigations into officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths that occur in Arapahoe, Douglas and Elbert County. The Aurora Police Department will investigate the crimes leading up-to the officer-involved shooting.

The two Aurora Police Officers who fired their weapons were equipped with department issued body cameras which will be used as part of this ongoing investigation. They have both been placed on paid administrative leave.

We want to thank our partners from the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Parker Police Department, Rocky Mountain Falck and South Metro Fire Rescue for their quick response and assistance during this incident.

Tweet from Chief Wilson regarding tonight’s incident.

Link to our press briefing.

Agent Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095

Posted by [email protected] On Feb 09, 2022 at 8:47 PM

Shots Fired During Barricaded Armed Party Call

On September 26, 2021 at approximately 2:10p.m. Aurora Police responded to a report of shots fired at 2230 North Billings Street. Upon arrival officers found that an apartment at that location had been struck by several rounds. No one inside of the apartment was injured during the incident.

At approximately 5:00p.m. Aurora Police received a report of a family disturbance at 2250 Billings Street. Prior to arrival it was learned that a 21-year-old man was inside of the residence having a mental health crisis. It was also reported that he was possibly under the influence of an known substance, had access to a firearm and was threatening to shoot people inside of the residence. It was also discovered that he was possibly the person who had shot at 2230 Billings Street earlier in the afternoon.

Due to the dangerous nature of this call the Aurora Police SWAT Team was called to the scene. Multiple commands were given to the suspect to surrender and exit the residence, he failed to follow the commands. An Officer with the Crisis Response Team was able to make contact with a resident who had barricaded himself with another person in the basement to protect themselves from the suspect.

At around 7:55p.m. Officers learned that the suspect was trying to force his way into the basement where the two people has been hiding from him. Fearing for the safety of the residents hiding from the suspect the decision was made to force entry into the residence. While inside of the residence shots were fired by an APD SWAT Officer. No one was injured and the subject was taken into custody.

Due to the behavior and mental state of the suspect he was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Once he is released from the hospital and booked into the Aurora Detention Center his name, charges, and booking photo will be released.

The Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) for the 17th Judicial District responded and will be investigating this shooting incident. The CIRT Team conducts independent, multi-agency investigations into officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths that occur in Adams and Broomfield Counties. As part of Police Chief Vanessa Wilson's "A New Way" Plan to rebuild trust with the community, the Aurora Police Department joined the CIRT Teams for both the 17th and 18th Judicial Districts In April of this year.

Lieutenant Chris Amsler-PIO
Commanding Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095

Posted by [email protected] On Sep 27, 2021 at 12:02 AM

Officer-Involved Shooting with Hoax Bomb in Summer Valley Neighborhood

(July 13) On Monday July 12^th, 2021 at approximately 1:16 p.m., the Aurora Police Department Crisis Response Team (CRT) responded to 4283 South Salida Way after being alerted by community members an adult male there may benefit from mental health crisis resources.

The responding CRT consisted of one Aurora police officer, and one clinician from the Aurora Mental Health Center. The subject contacted, later identified as Jeffrey Moralez DOB 3/3/1979, refused any contact or assistance from CRT.

Later in the day at approximately 7:11 p.m., Aurora Public Safety Communications received two calls for police service from community members. Both callers reported Mr. Moralez had a firearm on his hip outside near 4283 South Salida Way and was being disruptive. Upon officer’s arrival they observed the male and determined he was not engaged in criminal activity at that time and contact was not initiated.

At 8:41 p.m. Aurora police officers responded back to 4283 South Salida Way to investigate an allegation that Mr. Moralez was harassing two people. This contact with Mr. Moralez led to an Aurora Police SWAT response at 9:05 p.m. after he pointed a rifle at an officer. It was at this point Mr. Moralez was now being investigated for Felony Menacing charges. The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad and SWAT as well as the Douglas County SWAT responded to the scene with additional resources to provide assistance.

At 9:11 p.m. the first of four subsequent CodeRED emergency alerts, commonly referred to as Reverse 911 calls, were sent to residents in the area advising to shelter-in-place. If you would like to receive CodeRED alerts please visit Community Notification Enrollment (coderedweb.com) to register.

After several hours of officers attempting to gain a peaceful surrender through various de-escalation techniques, negotiations, and less lethal options, Mr. Moralez began firing numerous rounds at the SWAT members inside the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office SWAT BearCat vehicle at 3:58 a.m. Multiple bullets struck the body and windshield of the BearCat causing significant damage to the windshield. During the time Mr. Moralez was shooting at officers, two Aurora police officers returned fire. Mr. Moralez was not struck by bullets fired by Aurora police officers but did receive shrapnel wounds.

Finally, at approximately 4:40 a.m. Mr. Moralez surrendered allowing him to be taken into custody. Officers then checked the residence for additional threats and discovered what was later deemed to be a “hoax bomb”. A hoax bomb is a device made to look real but is in fact not real. Mr. Moralez was transported to an area hospital to be treated for his injuries and that is where he remains as this time.

The two Aurora police officers involved in the officer-involved shooting have been placed on administrative leave with pay per departmental policy. The Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) for the 18th Judicial District responded and will be investigating this officer involved shooting incident. The CIRT Team for the 18th Judicial District conducts independent, multi-agency investigations into officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths that occur in Arapahoe and Douglas County. As part of Police Chief Vanessa Wilson's "A New Way" Plan to rebuild trust with the community, the Aurora Police Department joined the CIRT Teams for both the 17th and 18th Judicial Districts in April of this year.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office SWAT and Bomb Squad, Douglas County SWAT, Aurora Fire Rescue and Falck Rocky Mountain for their assistance in this incident.

“Aurora police patrol, hostage negotiators, K-9 Unit and SWAT officers faced a very serious threat today for an extended period of time. Their professional and heroic actions likely spared our community from a greater tragedy. There’s not a doubt in my mind their actions saved lives today and prevented further damage. As always, we encourage anyone struggling with a crisis, to please reach out for help by calling our CRT or Colorado Crisis Services at 844-493-TALK (8255)” -Chief Wilson

Officer Crystal McCoy
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095

Image of Jeffrey Moralez
JeffreyM

Images from Twitter @AuroraPD
swat

Posted by [email protected] On Jul 13, 2021 at 4:06 PM