Former Constable Facing Aggravated Assault Charge

Mario Ramos found himself in court Monday morning facing an aggravated assault charge.

Ramos, who was once a Constable for Precinct 6, is accused of unlawfully shooting Juan Ortegon on August 16, 2008.

On Monday prosecutors called Alex De La Rosa to the stand. De La Rosa was driving her car on the evening of the incident, when she came to a stop light at Lee Elder Drive and Montwood. In court she recalled seeing two cars stopping abruptly on Montwood and watching as two people began running in her direction.

According to De La Rosa, a man in a plaid shirt put his hands up in the air when the other person, who came from a vehicle that appeared to have lights on the top, pulled a gun out. That?s when De La Rosa got scared, she saw the man with his hands up take a step around the other person just prior to turning onto Montwood and driving away. Moments later she says she heard gunfire.

?I heard two gun shots,? said De La Rosa on the stand. ?Between seeing them and the shots it was three to four seconds.?

De La Rosa said she didn?t see what occurred in those seconds, but said when she turned back she saw the man with the gun taking things from the victim?s pockets and violently throwing items onto the ground.

Fire Department workers were also called to the stand on Monday. Two separate individuals gave testimony that when they arrived they found Juan Ortegon on the ground bleeding profusely, adding that they were not sure he was alive when they first saw him.

Both said they found gunshot wounds to Ortegon?s right butt that exited his pelvis, and another gunshot wound to the back. Defense attorneys objected to those comments pointing out that neither was an expert, however, the judge allowed their opinions based on their paramedic training. Paramedics pointed out that the wound to Ortegon?s buttocks was smaller than the groin, and had less damage consistent with what they believed was an entry wound.

The trial is set to continue Tuesday morning in the 120th District Court in the El Paso County courthouse.