Couple Cleared of First-Degree Assault Charges

Tuesday, December 27, 2002
By, Jennifer Stanley
Greeley Tribune

A Greeley couple has been cleared of accusations that they tried to hinder the investigation of a gang fight.

Laura Rios, 38, and Alberto Rios, 43, were arrested in May for accessory to first-degree assault and false reporting.  Police say they covered up an investigation of their son, Shawn Alejandro, 21.

The Weld district attorney’s office dismissed the charges Nov. 15, saying it could not prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

Police were initially called at 9:50 p.m. May 5 to the Wilshire Shopping Center in the 2800 block of 10th Street in Greeley to a reported auto/pedestrian accident.

Witnesses told police they saw a gang fight erupt in the parking lot and saw a dark-colored SUV run over two of the men who were fighting.

The men were taken to North Colorado Medical Center in private vehicles before police arrived.  The suspect had sped away.

Jorge Flores suffered a broken pelvis in the attack, and Rolando Gonzales suffered a dislocated sternum and multiple scrapes.

Some witnesses of the incident followed the SUV, a green 1997 Ford Explorer, and took down the license plate number.  They later gave it to police.

That vehicle was traced to the Rioses as the owners.  However, several witnesses came forward, many through anonymous calls to police, identifying Alejandro as the driver.
Alejandro is scheduled for trial next year.

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