Colorado Springs Police arrest juveniles, adults in alleged crime spree connected to gang activity

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Colorado Springs Police (CSPD) arrested four juveniles and three adults that are suspected of multiple crimes including attempted murder, motor vehicle theft, felony menacing, aggravated robbery, and others.

CSPD says that From December 2021, through July 2022, CSPD detectives with the Strategic Investigations Unit (SIU), investigated a pattern of crimes committed by a group of juvenile offenders, affiliated with a local gang known as “P-Block.” 

The investigation began in December of 2021 when detectives who were working undercover were contacted via social media by one of the suspects. CSPD did not release the names of the juvenile suspects and refers to them as "Suspect 1."

According to CSPD, Suspect 1 already had an extensive and violent arrest history which included robbery, menacing, and motor vehicle theft, and when he contacted SIU detectives, he solicited them to assist him in the overnight burglary of a gun store, for the purpose of stealing firearms. CSPD says that Suspect 1 identified the location he intended to burglarize and requested detectives provide him with a firearm and glass breaking tool.

On December 21, 2021, a meeting was arranged for detectives to provide the burglary tools at which time Suspect 1 was intercepted and arrested for the Conspiracy to Commit 1st Degree Burglary. During his arrest, Suspect 1 was also found in possession of a handgun. Suspect 1 was subsequently released on bond and after his release, he failed to appear for court, according to CSPD.

On January 31, 2022, Suspect 1, along with two additional juveniles, CSPD identified as “Suspect 2” and “Suspect 3,” drove to a school fight near Panorama Middle School, pointed multiple firearms at a group of sixth graders, and threatened to kill them.

According to CSPD, further investigation revealed a fourth juvenile suspect, “Suspect 4,” had arranged for the menacing incident near Panorama Middle School by staging the fight and planning on an armed confrontation.

CSPD says that on February 1, 2022, Suspect 1 and Suspect 3, engaged in an attempted carjacking from a residential driveway. During this incident, Suspect 1 and Suspect 3 attempted to steal a vehicle and when they were confronted by the owner, Suspect 1 pointed a firearm at the owner and threatened to kill him, according to CSPD.

CSPD reported that on February 8, 2022, a CSPD Motors Unit officer observed the stolen vehicle and attempted to perform a traffic stop. The vehicle fled, eluding the officer. According to CSPD, evidence later recovered during the investigation revealed Suspect 1 and Suspect 3 recorded themselves fleeing from the traffic stop and that they pointed a handgun at the officer as they fled.

On March 1, 2022, SIU Detectives located Suspect 3 and took him into custody for an outstanding warrant. CSPD says that Suspect 3 was already a convicted felon and when he was arrested, he was found in possession of a shotgun.

On March 8, 2022, Suspect 1 and Suspect 2 were also arrested for outstanding warrants and were found in possession of a stolen handgun says CSPD. CSPD later determined that this was the same handgun used during the menacing at Panorama Middle School.

CSPD says that following the arrest of the suspects, SIU detectives prepared numerous search warrants and performed an extensive follow-up investigation. During that time SIU detectives uncovered evidence showing Suspect 3 had been involved in an incident where he fired shots into his neighbor’s house on January 15, 2022, according to CSPD.

Suspect 2 and Suspect 3 were also found to have been involved in another vehicular eluding incident on January 27, 2022, when they fled from a traffic stop.

According to CSPD, other evidence revealed Suspects 1, 2, and 3, were also involved in a motor vehicle theft on February 27, 2022, as well as eight other incidents where they fired shots into the air and in the direction of moving vehicles and occupied houses across town between February and March of 2022. 

According to CSPD, laboratory testing revealed the stolen handgun recovered from Suspects 1 and 2 on March 8, 2022, had been used during an unsolved attempted murder on January 21, 2022, the victim of which had not been identified.

SIU Detectives were able to identify and contact the victim.

CSPD says that follow-up revealed that Suspect 2 and Suspect 3 had attempted to rob the victim and when the victim tried to flee, the suspects fired into the victim’s car. The suspects then drove ahead of the victim and ambushed them by firing into their car again when the victim got stuck in traffic. CSPD says the victim was grazed by a bullet during the attack.

Investigative follow-up continued, during which time detectives learned of several adult suspects who had assisted the juveniles by providing assisting them in acquiring firearms, providing transportation, concealing, and tampering with evidence, and helping them avoid police detection, according to CSPD.

One of these suspects identified by CSPD as, 35-year-old Evan Hill, was contacted by undercover SIU detectives.

CSPD says that Hill believed the detectives were juveniles. Hill then solicited the detectives to engage in child prostitution and agreed to provide them with handguns and narcotics in exchange for sex.

 Hill was located and arrested on July 15, 2022. Detectives recovered six firearms, two of which were stolen and one which was defaced, according to CSPD.

The other two adult suspects were identified by CSPD as 37-year-old Heather Marquez and 42-year-old April Beese.

 CSPD says that Suspect 1 was arrested for 14 new crimes, including Conspiracy to Commit 1st Degree Burglary, Motor Vehicle Theft, Menacing, Prohibited Use of Weapons, 1st Degree Assault on a Peace Officer, Accessory to Attempted 1st Degree Murder, and Intimidation of a Witness or Victim of Attempted 1st Degree Murder.

Suspect 2 was arrested for 8 new crimes, including Motor Vehicle Theft, Menacing, Prohibited Use of Weapons, Illegal Discharge of a Firearm, Providing a Handgun to a Juvenile, Aggravated Robbery, and Criminal Attempt to Commit 1st Degree Murder, according to CSPD.

CSPD says that Suspect 3 was arrested for 12 new crimes, including Motor Vehicle Theft, Menacing, Prohibited Use of Weapons, Illegal Discharge of a Firearm, Vehicular Eluding, Possession of Weapons by Previous Offenders, 1st Degree Assault on a Peace Officer, Aggravated Robbery, and Criminal Attempt to Commit 1st Degree Murder.

Suspect 4 was arrested for Criminal Solicitation for Felony Menacing, according to CSPD.

CSPD says that Evan Hill was arrested for Soliciting for Child Prostitution, Providing a Handgun to a Juvenile, Unlawful Purchase of a Firearm, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, and Possession of a Defaced Firearm.

Heather Marquez was arrested for Providing a Handgun to a Juvenile, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, Accessory to Vehicular Eluding, and Harboring a Minor says CSPD.

According to CSPD, April Beese was arrested for Providing a Handgun to a Juvenile, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, and Possession of Weapons by Previous Offenders.