It was rowdy weekend for local law enforcement. La Plata County Sheriff’s deputies responded to two separate incidents in which suspects came out swinging.
William Torivio, a 31-year-old La Plata County resident was reported to deputies doing “burnouts” Friday night in the parking lot of the Conoco gas station in Hermosa. When deputies found Torivio in the Lone Pine Mobile Home Park, 31733, U.S. Highway 550 in Hermosa, they also found a Toyota 4Runner with New Mexico license plates that was reported stolen in Durango on Friday night.
“He just immediately wanted to fight,” said Sgt. Mel Schaaf with the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office said. “It was about 9:30 (Saturday) night, the police officers contacted him and he ended up fighting with the primary officer. And when the second officer arrived, he fought with him.”
Both officers were treated at Mercy Regional Medical Center for minor injuries.
Torivio is currently in custody at the La Plata County Jail, with charges including assault on a peace officer, motor-vehicle theft and resisting arrest. He also had multiple warrants.
Also on Saturday night, officers with the Southern Ute Police Department chased two Ignacio men through the town, the pursuit ending only when the men crashed their vehicle.
Christopher Romero and Kevin Park were arrested by La Plata County Sheriff’s deputies when the tribal police turned them over to the county.
“They wanted to fight,” Schaaf said. “(Saturday) night, everybody wanted to fight.”
Park and Romero had multiple warrants, and they are currently in custody at La Plata County Jail. They were arrested for having felony warrants, vehicular eluding, resisting arrest, obstruction of a peace officer and other offenses. Also, Romero was arrested for driving under the influence and driving with a revoked license.
bmathis@durangoherald.com
