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Police: Assault suspect yelled ‘Mexicans, leave from here’

John Gardner
Glenwood Springs correspondent
Aspen, CO Colorado

GLENWOOD SPRINGS ” The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man after he allegedly hit another man with his vehicle and threatened deputies with a shotgun.

According to an arrest affidavit, a deputy responded to a disturbance call at the H Lazy F mobile home park, 5387 County Road 154, south of Glenwood Springs, about 8:45 p.m. Friday.

Gary Hazelhurst, 53, was arrested on 10 charges, including first-degree assault on a police officer, second-degree assault and felony menacing. He was also charged with harassment, obstructing a police officer, resisting arrest and prohibited use of a weapon.



According to the arrest affidavit, Hazelhurst allegedly struck 22-year-old Victor Moreno in the knees with his white Toyota pickup while Moreno walked to the residence of one of Hazelhurst’s neighbors in the trailer park. Hazelhurst yelled “Mexicans, leave from here” and other obscenities as he approached Moreno, the report states.

It was unclear if Moreno lived at the residence or not.




By the time the first deputy arrived at the scene, the confrontation appeared to be over. However, the report says that when a sheriff’s deputy attempted to place Hazelhurst, who appeared intoxicated, in handcuffs, he allegedly resisted and was able to get away and run inside his residence.

Hazelhurst reportedly returned a few moments later with a double-barreled shotgun and told the deputy, “How do you like this?” Then he returned inside his residence and refused to come out.

A sheriff’s deputy was able to contact Hazelhurst by phone and was able to get him to place the shotgun outside on the porch. However, he still refused to exit the home.

After nearly an hour, deputies entered the home and arrested Hazelhurst after the deputy was able to calm him.

According to the report, while Hazelhurst was being escorted to a patrol vehicle, he began struggling with authorities. The report stated that Hazelhurst was Tasered once, received two “drive stuns,” and also one knee strike before he stopped fighting with the two deputies.

Several witnesses said they saw Hazelhurst attempt to “run over” Moreno, according to police. One witness said he saw Hazelhurst get out of the vehicle and approach the house Moreno was at and that he heard him yell, “Go back to your country.”

Hazelhurst posted a $29,500 bond and was released from the Garfield County jail. He is scheduled to be in court for formal filing of charges on May 13.

Carbondale and Glenwood Springs police assisted in the incident.

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