2 men escape from Colorado ICE facility in Aurora during power outage
Two people who were detained at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Denver Contract Detention Facility in Aurora have escaped and officials said late Wednesday that they are hoping people in Colorado will help in the search for them.
They are 24-year-old Geilond Vido-Romero and 32-year-old Joel Jose Gonzalez-Gonzalez.
The two men escaped on Tuesday night during a power outage at the facility, according to the Aurora Police Department. It wasn't until 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday that the police department said they were notified the men were missing.
Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain released this statement to CBS News Colorado regarding the escaped detainees.
"The Aurora Police Department is ready and willing to help our federal partners, including those working at the ICE GEO facility.
"In order for us to effectively respond to and assist our federal partners with calls for service, we need to receive timely and accurate information. That unfortunately did not happen, as demonstrated by the facts of this incident.
"The Aurora Police Department is dedicated to serving and protecting the city of Aurora community. The ICE GEO facility is a holding center for people who come from all over the state of Colorado, not specifically from Aurora, and there nothing to indicate at this time the escapees have any ties to our city.
"The city of Aurora did not create this situation, but I want to assure our residents that an active investigation is underway to determine if these individuals have any connection with Aurora. If these two men are hiding out in our city, we will find them and return them to custody."
The Aurora Police Department updated the following timeline of events leading up to the escape from information provided by ICE GEO officials, Aurora police reports and Aurora911 CAD call notes:
9:30 p.m. Tuesday – Power goes out at the ICE GEO facility, causing the doors of at least one exit to become unlocked. ICE officials begin emergency head count.
10 p.m. Tuesday – Estimated time ICE GEO officials believe two detainees escaped, according to the original 911 caller at 2:30 a.m. from ICE GEO.
12:30 a.m. Wednesday – Emergency head count completed. ICE GEO officials confirm two detainees are missing.
2:30 a.m. Wednesday – ICE GEO officials call Aurora911 to report a possible escape of two detainees and request APD response. Due to the lack of information in the initial call, an APD watch commander called ICE GEO officials to clarify the limited and unclear information in the original call notes. During the call with ICE GEO officials, the watch commander learned the escape happened approximately four and one-half hours before it was reported to police. It was determined the timeline of events did not meet the definition of a "hot" escape report, in accordance with the MOU. The call was queued for follow-up.
5:15 a.m. Wednesday – Aurora patrol officer responds to ICE GEO and meets with facility officials to take a report.
Anyone with information on where Vido-Romero or Gonzalez-Gonzalez are can call the ICE tipline at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or fill out the federal agency's online tip form.
