COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Three people, including a minor and the minor’s mother, were arrested after a confrontation involving a tow truck turned violent on Monday, June 30, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD).
The incident happened in the 2000 block of Southgate Road near South Nevada Avenue, where a tow truck driver was attempting to remove a vehicle at the direction of a property manager. Several individuals interfered, reportedly beating on the tow truck and obstructing the tow.
CSPD said a person then got into the vehicle being towed and backed it out, striking the property manager and fleeing the scene.
When officers arrived, the suspects began to walk away. One of them—a minor—was identified and initially cooperated but quickly became combative and damaged a vehicle during the arrest attempt.
Before police could place the minor in a patrol car, the child’s mother, identified as Mariangela Martonez, allegedly attacked officers, repeatedly punching one of them. A crowd also began to swarm the officers, prompting a call for emergency backup. Additional officers arrived, and two more individuals were taken into custody.
The minor was arrested on misdemeanor charges and later released to a guardian. Martonez was booked into the Criminal Justice Center (CJC) for assaulting an officer. Jose Balza Pacheco, the driver who fled after striking the manager, later turned himself in and was also booked into the CJC.
Police confirmed that some officers were injured during the incident but remained on duty. Anyone with video footage of the event not already collected by police is encouraged to contact CSPD.
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