Pueblo police identify officer involved in May 30 shooting

The Pueblo Police Department identified the officer involved in a shooting of a man who allegedly pointed a weapon at police.

PPD says Stephen Biggs is the officer who shot Michael Valdez. Biggs is a seven-year veteran of the department.

Valdez, 45, was treated at a local hospital after being shot and was then booked into the Pueblo County Detention Center on two charges of felony menacing.

Police said the incident started with a family conflict at a home in the 1500 block of Neilson Avenue (MAP), a half mile from the shooting scene on the city’s east side.

When police tried to contact Valdez, he pulled out a weapon — pointing it toward an officer — and the officer opened fire, police said.

Police then chased Valdez to the area of Amarillo Avenue and East 10th Street, where Valdez was shot, police said.

The weapon was recovered at the scene but police provided no further details.

“I heard seven shots,” said Alicia Abeyta, a neighbor holding her dog as she watched part of the neighborhood covered in crime scene tape while officers investigated the incident. “I was worried about my kids being safe, so I got them inside.”