Arrest Made In Fatal Hit & Run Of Parking Valet
DENVER (CBS4) - Denver police have arrested a 28-year-old man in connection with the hit-and-run death of a parking valet last Saturday night. Detectives are still looking for a woman they believe was driving the pickup truck involved in the incident.
Law enforcement sources told CBS4 investigator Brian Maass that Eliu Montes-Garcia was taken into custody about 10 p.m. Tuesday night in Aurora. It's unclear precisely what police believe his role was in the hit-and-run.
"All of a sudden I looked out the window and I saw all these cops over here and stuff," said Montes-Garcia's neighbor Joellen Stotts. "They had the guy on the ground, I could hear them say, 'Get on the ground!' and they took him and handcuffed him and put him in the police car."
"I can confirm a person was arrested," DPD spokesman Sonny Jackson said. "We have to find out what his role was."
Jackson said investigators are still looking for "additional parties in connection with the hit-and-run." He said he did not know precisely what charges Montes-Garcia was arrested for. A sheriff's deputy at the Denver Detention Center said they had no record of Montes-Garcia being booked into the jail.
Montes-Garcia is not believed to be the driver of the white truck that killed Jose Medina. Police believe he is involved with the crime.
The incident took the life of parking valet Medina, 21, who was on his first night on the job at the Rock Star Lounge in the 900 Block of Lincoln Street. He was struck by a passing vehicle as he assisted club patrons.
After three days of searching, Denver police located the suspect vehicle Tuesday night in Commerce City. They had been looking for a GMC Sierra with a license plate of 895-VYF. Multiple sources say police placed the vehicle under surveillance for several hours. Then, within hours of seizing the vehicle, police took Montes-Garcia into custody at the Friendly Village Mobile Home Park in Aurora at 1844 North Eisenhower Way.
There are indications Montes-Garcia may have given authorities false information about his identity when he was arrested. Police have not said what charges Montes-Garcia is being held on.
Montes-Garcia had a series of arrests on traffic and drug charges in Colorado. He was sent to prison in Colorado in October 2007. Three months later, the Department Of Corrections turned him over to immigration authorities. After determining Montes-Garcia was here illegally, federal authorities deported Montes-Garcia back to Mexico on March 27, 2008.
The attorney for the Medina family said they're grateful to anyone who has helped steer police in the right direction.
"They want to say thanks to the public for any tips that led to his arrest and they're hopeful that if this is not the driver, that this individual will lead them to the driver," said Medina family attorney Gabriel Schwartz.
- Written by Brian Maass
