Update: 2 in custody, 2 at large after assault in Centerville, multi-agency response in Farmington

Abraham Valdez Alonso (left inset) and Ricardo Jesus Quintero (right inset) are in custody after an alleged assault and robbery and a law enforcement manhunt on Tuesday, May 14, 2019. Photos: Davis County; Gephardt Daily

CENTERVILLE/FARMINGTON, Utah, May 15, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — Two teens are in custody and two other suspects remain at large after a robbery and assault Tuesday afternoon in Centerville that led police to a residence in Farmington, then on a manhunt when suspects scattered.

In custody are:

  • Ricardo Jesus Quintero, 18, booked on suspicion of aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony. Quintero’s bail is set at $100,000.
  • Abraham Valdez Alonso, 19, booked on suspicion of aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony, and aggravated assault, a third-degree felony. Alonso’s bail is set at $25,000.

Still being sought are young men identified only as Matt and Kota, believed to be in their late teens or early 20s.

Assault, robbery

Centerville police became aware of the alleged assault at about 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, and contacted the victim, who, Alonso’s probable cause statement says, “was covered in blood and had swelling to his face and above his left eye, as well as a large cut to the top of his head that medics reported would need staples.”

The victim said he was riding with four people he “believed were his friends” when one or more of them demanded his wallet.

When the victim refused to turn it over, the four males began to beat him, and as he tried to defend himself, he broke the window by his rear driver’s-side seat, behind driver Quintero, he said.

The victim told police that Alonso, seated in the front passenger-side seat, then “pulled a ‘revolver,'” again demanding the victim’s wallet.

The wallet then was “forcefully removed from the victim’s pocket, tearing his pants, and (he) was thrown from the vehicle,” the statement says.

The victim identified the driver as “Rico” Quintero from Farmington. Quintero was driving his own vehicle, a dark-colored Honda Accord, the victim said.

The victim said Quintero was not holding the gun, but did join in the beating. The victim identified the person holding the gun as Alonso, saying he had attended Bountiful’s Viewmont High School with both Quintero and Alonso.

Police response

Multiple officers responded to a Farmington address associated with Quintero, and began surveillance of the residence and a dark gray Honda Accord, the probable cause statement says. Also parked in front of the house was a silver Dodge Charger.

Officers observed males leaving the residence. A man later identified as Quintero got into the Honda Accord, and at least two other males got into the Charger, the statement says.

Officers attempted to stop both vehicles, but the Honda blocked the roadway, cutting off police car access to the Charger. The charger sped south, ran a traffic light, and lost control, crashing just west of 200 West, the statement says.

A female questioned at the Farmington residence told officers she had spoken earlier with Quintero, and “he told her he was going to ‘hit a lick.’ (She) told me that she knew that meant they were going to do a robbery … She said they (the four suspects) had spoken about the robbery and had said the victim was fighting back and broke the car window.”

Quintero’s arrest

Quintero was taken into custody, and declined to talk to police.

“Ricardo had markings on his knuckles consistent with fighting as well as a large amount of dried blood on his pants,” his probable cause statement says.

“Ricardo was photographed by Sergeant Alexander and his pants were taken and booked (into evidence) when we arrived at the jail.”

Quintero’s Honda Accord had a broken window and glass visible inside the car, the probable cause statement says. After a warrant was obtained, the car was searched, and blood splatter was found in the driver’s-side back seat, where the victim had been sitting.

A multi-hour manhunt followed for the males who were in the Charger. Agencies responding included the Farmington Police Department, Clearfield Police Department, Bountiful Police Department and Davis County Sheriff’s Office.

K-9 units and a Department of Public Safety helicopter were brought in to assist with the search, which slowed rush hour traffic on northbound Legacy Highway for multiple hours as officers with long guns searched for the missing suspects.

Officers eventually called off the search after a thorough search of the containment area turned up none of the suspects.

Alonso turns himself in

At about 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, Bountiful Dispatch called Centerville police to say a suspect was asking to turn himself in.

That suspect was Alonso, who requested a public defender before he would talk to police, the statement said.

As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, no additional suspects in the case had been booked into the Davis County Jail.

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