DENVER (KDVR) -- The Aurora Police Department is seeking charges for 11 suspects who were allegedly involved in what police are describing as a violent kidnapping and assault on two victims at a troubled apartment complex.
Officers responded to The Edge at Lowry Apartments around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday after a reported kidnapping. According to police, the investigation so far has found that two victims were confronted by several armed suspects who took them against their will to an apartment where they were bound, threatened and assaulted.
ICE: 16 suspects in Aurora apartment invasion arrested for being in the country illegallyAlleged violent incident prompts larger investigation
During a press conference Friday afternoon, Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain detailed the events that led up to the incident.
On Nov. 30, one of the victims captured a video of a fight between two women that occurred at the apartment complex. Chamberlain said she later shared that video with a friend, who "became threatened" and left for another state. The video was posted online and on Dec. 16, the woman who recorded the video and her husband were accosted near the courtyard and parking lot area.
The victims were taken to an empty apartment where they were bound, robbed, assaulted and "incredibly mistreated." The suspects then allegedly went to the victim's apartment and stole jewelry, cell phones and other items. Police said the suspects also forced the victims to give them banking information and details about their finances.
"The whole goal of this seemed to be based on the fact that these suspects wanted the camera or the cell phone that was used by our victim to take this video. They wanted that video removed because it showed not only the two females fighting but it also showed a number of other individuals in and around that apartment complex that were involved in criminal activity," Chamberlain said.
He said the suspects took the phone and destroyed the recordings. He said the victims talked to the suspects and were released on the basis that they would not reach out to law enforcement. They then went to a friend's house and contacted law enforcement.
Aurora police detail response, charges in investigation
On Tuesday morning, 19 people were detained during the preliminary investigation. Three of them were released after they were interviewed by investigators.
The other 16 people are being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, APD said. Eight of them remain under investigation, and another eight face charges in connection to the incident.
Aurora police chief: Armed apartment invasion 100% gang activityThe chief also confirmed that some of the people who have been arrested are confirmed Tren de Aragua gang members.
Police shared images of one of the rooms where individuals were taken into custody, showing that part of a wall had been torn away where police found weapons.
Police shared images of one of the rooms where individuals were taken into custody, showing that part of a wall had been torn away where police found weapons.Friday afternoon, the police department announced that it is submitting arrest affidavits in the 18th Judicial District Court for 11 undocumented suspects in the case, with charges including but not limited to second-degree kidnapping, aggravated robbery, first-degree assault, extortion and burglary.
Police said eight of the 11 suspects are in ICE custody, including:
Andres Alexander Liendo-Padilla, 25 Jesus Alberto Alejos Escalona, 22 Junior Reyes-Barrios, 28 Barbara Sivle Medina-Arcaya, 29 Donarkys Teresa Suarez-Quesada, 31 Luigi Javier Soto-Sucre, 26 Niefred Jose Serpa Acosta, 20 Jengrinso Elias Loreto-Petit, 26Three of the suspects are outstanding, police said.
During the press conference, Chamberlain said investigators found that the suspects were extorting or taxing the victims, and possibly others in and around the apartment complex, for $500 every month or every two weeks. Police are investigating whether this has happened with other residents in the apartment complex.
Police also confirmed Friday that one of the men seen in the viral video of men carrying guns at the Edge at Lowry Complex in August was also involved in the latest kidnapping and torture case.
All of the suspects in custody are being held at ICE's detention facility and at some point will go through removal hearings. However, if they face charges here, they will be transferred to a county jail.
Download the FOX31 App: Breaking news alerts & Pinpoint WeatherAurora Mayor Mike Coffman said he welcomed help from ICE agents who helped make the arrests in this case.
"We will work with immigration services, with ICE as much as we are allowed to in the state of Colorado. We have never been a sanctuary city and we will cooperate as much legally possible," Coffman said.
The Colorado Rapid Response Network, a collection of migrant advocacy groups, claimed the police operation "left behind a trail of family separation, fear and devastation."
"ICE’s presence at these operations erodes trust in law enforcement, making it less likely that immigrants will report crimes or cooperate with investigations," a joint statement read.
Chief reiterates support for crime victims
Chamberlain said if the victims had not come forward to police, investigators may have never known about the incident, or other issues uncovered throughout this investigation. Chamberlain said the police department wants everyone in the community to feel safe reporting crimes to police, regardless of immigration status.
"I think it's a situation where the suspects have basically victimized people of their own ethnicity, based upon the fact that the immigrant population does not want to come forward. They don't want to be involved in a conversation with law enforcement because they feel that there is going to be some retribution or some act related to their immigration status, and that is not going to occur," Chamberlain said.
FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inboxThe police department said the investigation is ongoing, and anyone with any information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters may remain anonymous and still be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
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