Man accused of shooting at Longmont officers arrested
Jan. 25—The man who reportedly fired multiple rounds at Longmont police officers before one officer struck struck him with a vehicle has been arrested and is facing charges including attempted murder and first-degree assault.
Jesus Hilario Rodela Jr., 26, was arrested Saturday on suspicion of attempted murder — extreme indifference, attempted murder of a peace officer, first-degree assault of a police officer, aggravated motor vehicle theft, interference with a school, reckless discharge of a firearm, possession of a weapon by a previous offender, possession of a weapon on school grounds, possession with intent to sell and possession of a defaced firearm.
According to an arrest affidavit, police were called to the 400 block of Baker Street at 2:19 p.m. Jan. 13 after a vehicle that had been reported stolen was spotted parked in an alley.
Officers ordered the two occupants of the vehicle to get out, and also ordered the occupants of a camper also parked in the alley to surrender to police. One of the men who came out of the camper, later identified as Rodela, instead fled the scene while the other people were taken into custody.
Nearby Columbine Elementary was placed on lockout while police searched the area for Rodela, who was reportedly seen by several residents running through yards.
According to the affidavit, an officer found Rodela in the 600 block of Baker Street and Rodela fired a handgun at the officer's vehicle, striking the vehicle once.
Rodela reportedly fired at and hit another officer's vehicle before that officer hit Rodela with the vehicle.
According to the affidavit, a drone captured footage of the incident that supported what the officers said happened. Two other witnesses also reported seeing Rodela shoot at the vehicles.
While neither officer fired their weapon, the case is considered use of force, and the Critical Incident Response Team for the 20th Judicial District will handle the investigation. Neither officer was named in the affidavit or by Longmont police.
Neither officer was injured, but Colorado law also allows for a first-degree assault charge when the defendant "threatens with a deadly weapon a peace officer, firefighter, or emergency medical service provider engaged in the performance of his or her duties, and the offender knows or reasonably should know that the victim is a peace officer, firefighter, or emergency medical service provider acting in the performance of his or her duties."
Officers searched Rodela and found $1,300 in cash and about 10 pills that police said appeared to be counterfeit oxycodone fentanyl.
He was transported to Longs Peak Hospital with a broken ankle, three broken ribs and a fractured vertebra.
The other man in the camper with Rodela said he knew Rodela as his supplier. The two people in the stolen car said they did not know Rodela but that he came to pick them up in the car when they had asked another person for a ride.
Rodela has a criminal history that includes prior arrests for aggravated motor vehicle theft, burglary and various drug charges, according to the affidavit.
According to the Colorado Department of Corrections, Rodela was on parole following a 10-year prison sentence in a Weld County case. Rodela's parole date was not immediately available.
At the time of his arrest Rodela also had two outstanding warrants for motor vehicle theft and a warrant for a parole violation.
He is being held without bond at the Boulder County Jail due to the alleged parole violation and is set for a formal filing of charges on Wednesday.
