4th Person Arrested In Beating Of Man Outside Gay Club
A fourth individual and third adult has been charged in the aggravated assault case that occurred outside the Old Plantation night club on Saturday, May 7, 2011.
The Police Department’s Intelligence section secured for the arrest of Manny Portillo last week. Portillo, 19, of the 9300 block ofLuna Vista Rd., Las Cruces NM, is currently in the Dona Anna County Jail on unrelated charges. Portillo has been booked in Las Cruces on the outstanding warrant stemming from his involvement in this case. Portillo is awaiting extradition proceedings. Police investigators and Special Agents from the FBI continue their investigation.
Other arrests in the case include: Ivan Gallardo, 17, of the 900 block of S. Tays, has been charged with Aggravated Assault and booked into the El Paso County Jail on a bond of $50,000. Roman Olvera, 19, of the 2200 block of Bassett, has been charged with aggravated assault and booked into the El Paso County Jail on a bond of $50,000. Police had previously detained a 16-year-old boy in the assault of 22-year-old Lionel Martinez outside of the Old Plantation (OP) nightclub. The unnamed juvenile was referred to the Juvenile Probation Department for the offense of aggravated assault.
Martinez remains in critical condition.
Police have classified the assault as being gang related and “was not not committed based on bias of race, color, disability, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, gender or sexual preference,” according to police officials.
Police investigators and Special Agents from the FBI continue their investigation and anticipate more arrests, police officials said. The FBI is investigating the incident as a civil rights violation.
At about 12:20 a.m. May 7, Martinez was outside the club waiting for a ride when a verbal confrontation began between him and six others males, according to police.
The confrontation became physical with the six males punching, kicking, and eventually using a bat to hit Martinez, police said.
One of the Martinez’s friends had her vehicle damaged by the suspect who had the bat when he struck her 2003 Jeep Liberty’s windshield with the bat to stop her from helping the victim. The victim was transported to University Medical Center (UMC) in critical condition.
The suspects are believed to have fled the area in a van type vehicle. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call the El Paso Police at 915-832-4400 or to remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 915-566-8477.
Related Links:Link:Hate Crime Meeting Held In Response To Gay Nightclub BeatingLink:Gay Rights Group Says EPPD Not Trained For Hate Crimes; Police DisagreeLink:El Paso Police Dept. Statement On Sensitivity TrainingLink:Woman Says Police Didn’t Classify Her Beating Outside Gay Club As Hate CrimeLink:El Paso Police Statement Regarding Hate Crime Allegations
