Teen faces no additional charges after dragging Falcon man during a community garage sale

FALCON, Colo. (KRDO) - After a garage sale turned violent, a Falcon neighborhood is concerned the suspect involved in the altercation may retaliate if law enforcement doesn’t take more serious measures.

Eric Martinez began Saturday trying to sell items from his house, and ended in him being dragged down the street following a confrontation with a teen.

His Falcon neighborhood, Winding Walk, was holding a community-wide garage sale and his family was one of many participating.

Martinez said a teenager was speeding through the neighborhood multiple times during the garage sale. He told 13 Investigates he was worried about the safety of kids walking between garage sales so he confronted the teen.

However, this wasn’t the Martinez Family's first confrontation with 18-year-old Jeremiah Rush. The day before, Eric’s wife Rachel Martinez told Rush he needed to slow down, but the teenager reportedly dismissed her. Rachel said she even reported the incident to the police, telling them the situation was going to escalate if something wasn’t done.

“Then the next day he pulls a gun out and threatens to kill my husband,” Rachel said. “If he pulled that trigger, we would not be having the same conversation.”

Security camera footage, obtained by 13 Investigates shows Eric going up to Rush’s driver-side window. Eric said he told the teenager to slow down when Rush pointed a gun at him. In the video, there is a struggle as Eric shouts, “Gun, gun, gun.” The driver then accelerated, pulling Martinez with him.

“The driver then let go of the weapon, grabbed onto me and I was dragged down the street,” Martinez said. “I came off the car at about 35, 40 miles an hour.”

After Rush sped off, he returns about 15 minutes later. El Paso County Sheriff deputies who were on the scene arrested the 18-year-old and charge him with obstructing a peace officer and resisting arrest. While being detained, Rush threatened to kill Martinez and his family, according to a witness video obtained by 13 Investigates.

“He made several threats to me and my family,” Martinez said. "I'm worried that if he acts on that, what will happen then?”

Despite the threats, Rush was released from custody and never booked in the El Paso County jail because the charges weren’t felonies, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office said.

Martinez is worried the teen, who lives five houses down from him, will retaliate. He is asking the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office to file more serious criminal charges against Rush.

The sheriff's office, however, said Rush won't face any more charges and the investigation is now closed.

“I just want the community to be aware that there's a dangerous individual in our community and he's getting a slap on the wrist,” Martinez said. “I hope it doesn't take someone getting killed for something to be done.”

The Martinez Family is trying to file a restraining order against Rush in civil court while they await what happens on the criminal side.

“Somebody is going to get hurt and these kids need to be safe,” Rachel said. “That's all I care about is the safety of my household and the kids in this community.”

Do you have a tip you want 13 investigates to look into? Email us at 13investigates@krdo.com