-Chief Tyson Kerr, Sterling Police Department
In May of 2022, the Sterling Police Department began investigating a series of burglaries at Korf Automotive, located at 520 East Chestnut Street. Several vehicles were stolen in separate criminal events between May 25 and June 20, 2022. In at least one of the burglaries, suspects were armed and drove a vehicle from a previous burglary into the store to gain entry.
Evidence obtained during the subsequent investigation connected the suspects to a pattern of numerous similar crimes around the Front Range and Northeast Colorado. Detectives collaborated with the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority (CATPA), Colorado Metropolitan Auto Theft Taskforce (C-Matt) and the Colorado Beat Auto Theft Through Law Enforcement (BATTLE) group to share information and coordinate leads. Sterling Police evidence included DNA evidence, electronic evidence and a timeline of the local burglaries, vehicles stolen in Sterling and used in other crimes on the Front Range, and locations of recovered vehicles. Hundreds of hours were invested into these cases.
After an extensive investigation by the Sterling Police Department, Denver area auto theft groups, and several other law enforcement agencies, 13 individuals were indicted by an Adams County Grand Jury, charging 121 counts including racketeering, motor vehicle thefts and burglaries. Of these 13, two suspects were identified and charged with the following in connection to the Sterling Korf cases.
• Alejandro Vasquez-Silva (total of 8 counts)
COCCA-Pattern of Racketeering C.R.S. 18-17-104(3) F-2
COCCA-Conspiracy C.R.S. 18-17-104(4) F-2
Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft 1st Deg C.R.S. 18-4-409(3)(a) F-5
Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft 2nd Deg C.R.S. 18-4-409(4)(b) F-6
• Hector Escalera-Hernandez (total of 46 counts)
COCCA-Pattern of Racketeering C.R.S. 18-17-104(3) F-2
COCCA-Conspiracy C.R.S. 18-17-104(4) F-2
Second Degree Burglary C.R.S. 18-4-203(1),(2)(a) F-6
Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft 2nd Deg C.R.S. 18-4-409(4)(b) F-6
The Sterling Police Department is grateful for the cooperation and assistance from the Denver area auto theft groups and all of the involved law enforcement agencies in a successful collaborative investigation.
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