A 27-year-old man wanted on suspicion of burglary and assault was the only one of Colorado’s 50 most-wanted fugitives picked up during the Denver Police Department’s annual roundup.
Ezequiel Gomez’s arrest Saturday night had been a promising start to this year’s search, police spokesman Sonny Jackson said.
But, in the end, the solo arrest was a stark disappointment in comparison with last year’s 34 arrests of the 50 most wanted.
“The phone calls have not been ringing like we wanted them to this year,” Jackson said.
Police received a tip Saturday night that Gomez, 49th on the list, was at a bingo hall on Federal Boulevard, Jackson said. The success of the roundup hinges on the tips law enforcement receive, he said.
“Generally when we put someone on that list, we’ve exhausted all other avenues,” Jackson said. “We need the public’s help.”
Jackson said this year’s event was not as widely known by the public, and the number of tips suffered as a result.
More than 100 officers, some volunteering their off-duty weekend, started the 12-hour search at sunrise.
Police arrested 46 people wanted for various misdemeanor and felony warrants, Jackson said. Investigators were working on 170,370 misdemeanor warrants and 30,443 felonies for crimes such as murder and sexual assault.
The event is in its 13th year and is the collaboration of 20 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies as well as the Colorado Department of Corrections and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Cassie Hewlings: 303-954-1638 or chewlings@denverpost.com
