Police: Perry deliberately and maliciously killed Officer Ortiz

UPDATE: El Paso Police said John Perry, the man who struck the late Officer David Ortiz, “deliberately and maliciously” killed Ortiz. Police announced this during a news conference Thursday morning.

Officer Ortiz succumed to his injuries March 14, four days after he was hit from behind by Perry at a stoplight at Lee Trevino and Vista Del Sol in east El Paso.

Police said the crash was initially believed to be an accident and was being handled by the Special Traffic Investigations Unit. But as the investigation unfolded information was obtained that led police to believe the incident was in fact intentional.

With the assistance of Texas State Troopers, the Merkel Police Department and Abilene Police, it was discovered that Perry observed Officer Ortiz and made a decision to drive his vehicle into the police motorcycle which ultimately led to the Officer Ortiz’s death.

When Perry was located in Merkel, Texas, the Merkel Police Department alerted El Paso Police. On March 23, El Paso Police Detectives travelled to Merkel which is about 16 miles west of Abilene. Perry was apprehended in his car without resistance. Police ultimately charged Perry with Capital Murder for his actions on March 10.

No word if there were any weapons on him.

Commander Carey Matthews is the Regional Commander for DPS Region 4, which includes El Paso, Midland, Odessa, and the majority of west Texas.

During the conference Thursday, Matthews said that the Texas Department of Public Safety received request for assistance from the El Paso Police Department in searching for Perry. DPS assisted with personnel and resources. Matthews said the Aircraft Division also played a critical role.

“Transportation coordination, surveillance and apprehension capabilities resulted in the arrest today”, said Matthews. “This investigation and arrest is a prime example of our commitment to work together.” He also said that the partnership allowed the agencies to work together to “seek justice for our fallen brother Ortiz.”

Chief of Police Greg Allen had a message for the community after the conference. “If you commit a crime as heinous as the one he (Perry) did in this town, and we find out about it, you’re going to go to jail.”

When a reporter referred to Perry as a gentleman, Chief Allen quickly retorted Perry is not “not a gentleman.” “Let’s get that fact straightened out right now. People that kill other people are not a gentleman.”

Perry was booked into the Taylor County Jail and will be returned to El Paso
once the investigation concludes in Merkel.

Police warned media not to politicize the arrest, and stressed that Perry is innocent until proven guilty.

PREVIOUS: A 2013 indictment charges John Perry for engaging in organized criminal activity.

The document also states that John Perry is a purported member of a criminal street gang, Barrio Azteca.

Court documents state that as a member of the Barrio Azteca gang he used a knife and a bat, “in the manner of its use and intended use was capable of causing death and serious bodily injury.”

ORIGINAL STORY:

ABC-7 now knows the name of the man driving the vehicle that struck and killed El Paso Police Officer David Ortiz.

The 45-year-old Ortiz died March 14 from injuries he received in a March 10 crash. He was buried on Friday at Mount Carmel Cemetery in East El Paso.

According to the police report, Ortiz was stopped at a light on his motorcycle at the intersection of Lee Trevino and Vista Del Sol when he was struck from behind by a gray Kia Optima. The impact sent Ortiz flying over a third vehicle in front of him and into a fourth vehicle.

Police say that Kia Optima that struck Ortiz from behind was driven by 45-year-old John Perry, who was arrested for traffic warrants un-related to the crash that killed Ortiz.

Perry has yet to be charged for the wreck and police would only say that the investigation continues. But a quick search by the ABC-7 I-Team shows he’s been in trouble with the law many times before.

Perry has been arrested numerous times, dating back to the 1980’s, and has spent much of his adult life in prison. His arrests include aggravated assault of a public servant, in 1988, for which he was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Perry was also arrested for evading arrest in 1989, for a probation violation and DWI in 1990 and evading arrest in 1992. In 1993, court documents show Perry was arrested for robbery, assault and criminal mischief, for which he was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

In 2012, he was charged with theft of property and in 2013 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, for which he was sentenced to two years in prison and released in 2014.

After being released from Del Sol Medical Center, Perry was immediately arrested March 12 on previous charges of having no driver’s license, no insurance, expired plates, registration and safety sticker in another incident unrelated to the crash that killed Ortiz.

Perry was released from jail on March 13 for time served.

ABC-7 also uncovered brand new information about the El Paso Police motorcycle officer killed a year ago. Charges were never filed against 54-year-old Maria Soto, who allegedly pulled out in front of Officer Adrian Arellano at Yarbrough and Edgemere on March 18, 2015.

Officer Arellano was working a funeral procession on his motorcycle at the time. When ABC-7 asked about the case, we were told by the District Attorney’s office the investigation by El Paso Police determined it was a non-reportable felony and the case was presented to the district attorney without a charge.

After further review, the District Attorney’s office told ABC-7 prosecutors agreed and determined the events leading up to the crash did not rise to the level of criminal negligence that could justify an indictment against Soto for Arellano’s death.

And it now remains to be seen whether Perry will be charged for Ortiz’s death.