Reckless Driver Arrested After Violent Incident

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE # 26G006147**
 

Kristen Duus, PIO
Greeley Police Department
970.350.9605 (office)
Kristen.duus@greeleypd.com
 

Reckless Driver Arrested After Violent Incident
 

GREELEY, Colo. – A multi-agency response led to the arrest of a Greeley man last week, following a violent chain of events involving reckless driving, a high-speed collision, and an assault on law enforcement officers.
At approximately 6:05pm on Sunday, May 3, Greeley Police received reports of a reckless driver traveling westbound on Highway 34 near 95th Avenue. Witnesses reported the driver, identified as Gabriel Villalva, 35, was operating his vehicle with his leg hanging out of the window.

Villalva allegedly ran the red light at Promontory Parkway and continued driving dangerously, passing other motorists on both shoulders of the road. Near the 13300 block of Highway 34, he rear-ended a vehicle at a high rate of speed, forcing the vehicle into a ditch.
 

Despite severe damage to his vehicle, Villalva continued across the median into eastbound lanes before crossing back into westbound lanes, where his car eventually became disabled. A female passenger fled from Villalva’s vehicle and was picked up by a passing motorist before police arrived. Villalva then exited his vehicle and attempted to steal a nearby occupied vehicle. The occupant of that vehicle reportedly struck Villalva to defend themselves before driving away.
 

Three off-duty Weld County Sherrif’s Office deputies, along with an off-duty Longmont Police Officer, witnessed the struggle and intervened. The off-duty officers successfully pinned Villalva to the ground until Greeley Police arrived on scene. While being handcuffed and placed into a patrol car, Villalva assaulted two Greeley officers, who eventually used a restraint system to safely restrain him for transport to a local hospital for evaluation before he was cleared and booked into the Weld County Jail.
 

Villalva was charged with two felony counts of 2nd degree assault on a peace officer, driving under the influence, reckless driving, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, following too closely, passing on the left in an unsafe manner and passing on the right when not permitted.
 

No serious injuries were sustained to the victims of the crash, the victim of the attempted car theft or the officers.
The Greeley Police Department is grateful to the Weld County Sheriff’s Office, the Longmont Police Department, Colorado State Patrol and the Johnstown Police Department for critical assistance.
 

This is an ongoing investigation, and all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No further details will be released today.
 

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