Joint Law Enforcement Operation Leads to Felony Arrests of Best Buy Suspects
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE # 26G013178**
Kristen Duus, PIO
Greeley Police Department
970.350.9605 (office)
Kristen.duus@greeleypd.com
Joint Law Enforcement Operation Leads to Felony Arrests of Best Buy Suspects
GREELEY, Colo. — A coordinated, multi-agency operation has resulted in the arrest of two high-priority felony suspects in a local theft case.
On Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, law enforcement officers apprehended 30-year-old Benny Lucero, a high-priority suspect who had been actively evading arrest on numerous regional felony warrants. Lucero’s outstanding warrants included aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, robbery, second-degree motor vehicle theft, possession of a weapon by a previous offender, vehicular eluding, criminal mischief, second-degree burglary, and multiple misdemeanor charges.
Officers identified Lucero driving a black Honda Accord accompanied by an adult female passenger in the 2800 block of 35th Avenue. After an initial tactical vehicle intervention by Colorado State Patrol troopers was unsuccessful, law enforcement shifted to passive surveillance to protect public safety. Utilizing unmarked vehicles, automated license plate readers, and Real-Time Information Center (RTIC) drones, officers tracked Lucero as he traveled westbound into Loveland via Highway 34 for approximately an hour.
When traffic slowed on Highway 34, officers attempted to enclose the vehicle. Lucero swerved between lanes to escape, striking the front end of an unmarked State Parole SUV and colliding with the rear of a citizen’s vehicle. Greeley Special Enforcement Team (SET) officers immediately used their patrol vehicle to pin the rear bumper of Lucero’s Honda Accord, immobilizing it. Lucero was taken into custody without further incident and transported to the Weld County Jail.
In addition to his existing warrants, Lucero was booked on new charges stemming from the vehicle eluding, reckless endangerment, traffic collisions, and his involvement in a Sept. 15 theft from Best Buy.
The arrest of Lucero follows an investigation into a theft in progress at the Best Buy in the Centerplace shopping center on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, at approximately 7:35 p.m., where two male suspects stole multiple gaming devices before fleeing.
Through ongoing investigative work, officers identified the second suspect as 25-year-old Steven Gamez-Briseno. In addition to his involvement in the Best Buy theft, Gamez-Briseno is actively wanted on numerous felony warrants across multiple jurisdictions, including Greeley, Fort Collins, Larimer County, Douglas County, and Arapahoe County.
On Tuesday, Sept. 22, SET officers conducted surveillance at Gamez-Briseno’s last known residence and took him into custody without incident. He faces numerous felony counts, including aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, robbery, second-degree motor vehicle theft, and multiple misdemeanor offenses, in addition to his involvement in the Best Buy theft. He was booked into the Weld County Jail.
The apprehensions were made possible through the combined efforts of the Greeley Police Department SET, Loveland Police Department Community Improvement Unit (CIU), Colorado State Patrol, Colorado State Parole, GPD Property Unit and the Real-Time Information Center (RTIC).
Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact SET Officer Kevin Douglas at 970-652-8234. This remains an ongoing investigation. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. No further details will be released today.