Basalt police arrest robbery suspects

BASALT – Police arrested an 18-year-old man and a juvenile Thursday on suspicion of felony theft and robbery for allegedly stealing the purse of a bicyclist Nov. 2.

Erick Gomez was arrested around 5:30 p.m. at his home, as was a 14-year-old, according to Sgt. Stu Curry. The suspects aren’t related. The juvenile’s name wasn’t released.

Gomez was taken to the Pitkin County Jail; the youth is in custody in juvenile facilities elsewhere in the state, Curry said.

Basalt police acted on witnesses’ statements and kept working leads until they came up with enough information to get arrest warrants signed Thursday, Curry said. Basalt officers were familiar with Gomez and the youth, Curry said, though he didn’t know if either had been arrested previously. The Basalt Police Department worked the case with the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office.

A married couple were riding bicycles to their home shortly before midnight Friday after a night on the town when the robbery occurred. They had crossed Highway 82 and were heading toward the Southside subdivision when they were confronted near the intersection of Basalt Avenue and Cody Lane. Police believe that the suspects were hanging out in the area of what is known as the 7-Eleven bridge over the Roaring Fork River when they saw the couple, according to Curry. The man and youth followed the couple across the highway, nabbed the purse and then fled back across Highway 82 toward the Basalt Store, Curry said.

The couple pursued the robbers, and the 32-year-old woman dropped her blue-and-yellow “Hello Kitty” bicycle. A neighbor happened by, picked up the bike and took it to the neighborhood trying to be a good Samaritan, Curry said. The woman and her town bike were reunited earlier this week, according to Curry.

The purse wasn’t recovered. Curry said it is unknown whether the man or boy had a weapon at the time of the robbery.