Man Accused Of Escaping Police Custody Due In Denver Court

DENVER, CO – An inmate who allegedly escaped from Denver sheriff's custody and remained on the run for months will appear in Denver District court this week. While searching for Mauricio Venzor-Gonzalez, 23, Denver police said they accidentally shot and killed another man they thought was Venzor-Gonzalez after a high-speed police chase.

The alleged escape happened March 19. Venzor-Gonzalez hopped a fence and fled from deputies after being brought to an early-morning doctor's appointment at Denver Health Medical Center, Denver sheriff's deputies said. Deputies said Venzor-Gonzalez should be considered "armed and dangerous."

That night, Aurora and Denver police staking out a house in Aurora associated with Venzor-Gonzalez chased an SUV that sped away from the home. After a high speed pursuit, officers fired at the driver and passenger, and the car went off the road near 41st Avenue and Albion Street. Steven Nguyen, 23, died of his injuries and Rafael Landeros, 23 was also injured.

Police raised the reward for information leading to the arrest of Venzor-Gonzalez to $10,000. He remained on the run until he was nabbed in Thornton on Aug. 24.

Venzor-Gonzalez had originally been arrested in November of 2017, after a gun battle with police following another high-speed chase near West Alameda Avenue and South Stuart Street, an arrest affidavit said. Venzor-Gonzalez, a passenger in the car, escaped on foot, Nov. 25, exchanging gunshots with a Denver police officer. He was later arrested Nov. 28 in the 9300 block of West 19th Avenue and charged with attempted murder, assaulting a police officer and illegal possession of a weapon.

Venzor-Gonzalez will appear in court Sept. 26 for escape charges.

Both images via Denver Police

Related: Denver Escaped Inmate: Reward Rises To $10,000

Related: Denver Police Shoot 2 After High Speed Chase From Aurora

Related: Escaped Denver Inmate: Police Search Near Hospital

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