August 6, 2008

The suspect who fired shots at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Andy Riddle on August 4, 2008 is in custody in Kenner, LA.  

Kenner Police executed an arrest warrant charging Victor Manuel Vasquez (DOB 12/20/1981) (AKA Juan Ortiz and Juan Manuel Ortiz Escalante, DOB 11-28-1984) with Attempted Murder and Assault With A Firearm Upon A Law Enforcement Officer. The CMPD will begin extradition proceedings to return Vasquez to Charlotte to face these charges. 

CMPD Homicide Unit detectives tracked Vasquez to Kenner based on tips called in to 911 and to the Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (336-VCAT).  "In addition to the hard work Homicide detectives put into this case, the Kenner Police Department did an absolutely terrific job," says Homicide Unit Sergeant Lee Ann Oehler. "Their Patrol Division, Special Response Team and Criminal Investigations Unit were great to work with. This is a suspect we knew to be armed and dangerous and the Kenner PD deserves credit for taking this suspect into custody without incident," she added.  The FBI and ICE bureaus in New Orleans also assisted in the capture.

Mr. Vasquez is also wanted out of York County, SC. for Grand Larceny, B&E Motor Vehicle and Criminal Conspiracy.  

Shortly after midnight, August 4, 2008, suspects, one of whom detectives later identified as Vasquez, fired shots at Officer Riddle as they fled a traffic stop. Officer Riddle was making the stop on a vehicle wanted for fleeing another traffic stop earlier in the evening. 

In the first stop, officers observed two Hispanic males in a dark green or black four-door Honda driving erratically on Branchway Court off of Arrowood Rd. When they attempted to make the stop, the Honda took off. The officers put out a description of the vehicle and Officer Riddle located it a short time later on Nations Ford Rd. The suspect vehicle turned onto Deanna Lane and stopped in a parking lot. Officer Riddle pulled in behind the vehicle. As he approached the vehicle on foot, the driver of the vehicle reached out the window and fired several shots at the officer who returned fire. The vehicle fled the scene with the suspects inside. Officer Riddle was uninjured in the gunfire.

Evidence at the scene indicates at least one round Officer Riddle fired struck the suspect vehicle. An independent witness observed the incident and is being interviewed by detectives.

The suspect vehicle was found in South Carolina shortly before 2 a.m. near exit 69 on I-77.  The suspects wrecked the car there and were seen fleeing that scene on foot.  Despite an extensive search, the suspects were able to elude capture. 

Detectives are still seeking information about the identity of the passenger in the vehicle Vasquez was driving. Anyone with information about this incident should call CrimeStoppers at 704-334-1600.