Motorists experienced a complete closure of Interstate 70 for over three hours yesterday for police to make an arrest. KDNK’s Raleigh Burleigh has this update.
Yesterday, we reported that Justin Lopez Madrid, the man arrested in an incident that closed I-70 for over 3 hours on Tuesday, was charged with assault in the second degree against a police official, attempted first degree murder, resisting arrest, obstructing a peace office, reckless endangerment, tampering with physical evidence and violation of a restraining order. According to the current inmate list at the Garfield County Sheriff’s website, Lopez Madrid was also charged with murder in the first degree. KDNK's Amy Hadden Marsh has since clarified with Tony Hershey of the 9th Judicial District Attorney's Office that the 1st Degree Murder charge was a mistake on the website that also carried over to the CBI report. The Grand Junction Sentinel reports that Lopez Madrid inexplicably cut the throat of a man who tried to help him after he wrecked his vehicle west of Rifle. The affidavit indicates that the victim’s friend defended him by pulling out his own knife and stabbing the attacker. Two officers were injured while taking Lopez Madrid into custody and were treated for abrasions and exposure to Madrid’s blood.
