American Falls pair charged with riot damage in 2021 bar fight

POCATELLO — A man and female constabulary opportunity caused a conflict that near respective injured and a section barroom damaged look felony charges.

Miguel Aleijandro Cortes, 32, and Christina Marie Cortes, 31, some of American Falls, person each been charged pinch 1 count of riot harm to nationalist aliases backstage property, tribunal records show. Additionally, Miguel has been charged pinch 1 felony count of aggravated battery.

July 29, 2021

Pocatello Police responded to reports of a conflict astatine a barroom connected North 3rd Avenue astir 7:35 p.m., according to an affidavit of probable cause. Upon arrival, officers said pinch nan victims, who said that 4 suspects had conscionable near nan segment successful a minivan pinch licence plates opening “2P.”

Police reports show that 1 of nan victims was holding nan near broadside of his look and that his near oculus was swollen “completely shut.”

A 2nd unfortunate said that 1 of nan suspects had “pulled retired a bunch of her hair.” The female unfortunate past pointed to “several clumps” of her hairsbreadth connected nan ground, nan affidavit says.

After confirming location to beryllium nary progressive threat, officers called for EMTs to participate nan barroom and thief nan victims. The female unfortunate said she was having problem breathing and “collapsed to nan ground” but declined ambulance carrier to nan hospital. The antheral unfortunate besides declined ambulance transport.

While nan victims were receiving aesculapian care, officers said pinch a witness, who provided descriptions of nan 2 males and 2 females responsible for nan attacks.

The witnesser said that nan antheral victim, an worker astatine nan bar, had trim disconnected nan suspects, and that they became upset. One of nan female suspects past began to conflict pinch 2 women astatine nan bar. The affidavit does not bespeak whether nan 2 women were labor aliases patrons.

When nan antheral unfortunate attempted to break up nan fight, nan 2 antheral suspects attacked him. The witnesser said that nan larger of nan men held nan unfortunate down while nan different man stood complete him and punched him successful nan look repeatedly.

While nan men were attacking nan victim, 1 of nan 2 female suspects who were now fighting threw a brew vessel astatine different female but missed. The vessel alternatively collapsed a window, according to nan affidavit.

The female suspects continued picking up and throwing items — including glasses, bottles and 1 of nan antheral victim’s shoes — astatine others successful nan bar.

All 4 suspects fled erstwhile 1 of nan witnesses called 911.

Officers obtained surveillance footage of nan incident from nan bar’s proprietor and put retired an effort to place to different officers and agencies.

After collecting statements and leaving nan bar, officers were informed that during nan fight, nan suspects took 2 compartment phones disconnected nan bar. One of those phones was located, utilizing nan Find My Phone app, adjacent nan intersection of Bridger and Main Streets successful Downtown Pocatello.

Officers recovered nan phone, which they believed to person been thrown from a vehicle. They sent it to nan grounds laboratory to spot if fingerprints could beryllium collected.

Pocatello officers contacted Power County sheriff’s deputies for thief successful uncovering nan suspects. Deputies identified Miguel, Christina and a 2nd female and tried to speak pinch nan trio. However, according to nan affidavit, each 3 refused to speak astir nan incident.

Using surveillance footage from nan bar, officers matched nan fishy conveyance to a van owned by Christina, nan affidavit says.

Officers past utilized nan footage to lucifer Miguel and Christina to nan incident.

Christina, nan affidavit says, went down nan barroom during nan correct to retrieve her in installments card, which was being held by nan bartender for her unfastened tab. While she was down nan bar, officers said, she was who threw nan brew vessel and drinking glasses.

Christina was besides seen leaving nan barroom pinch aggregate compartment phones. According to nan affidavit, she dropped 1 of nan phones while stepping retired of nan barroom and told Miguel to retrieve it.

July 31, 2021

Officers interviewed Christina Miguel. Neither would place nan 4th personification progressive successful nan incident, saying only that they knew him by nan sanction “Carlos.”

Christina told officers that Carlos and nan different female she was pinch were successful a conflict pinch each other, and that she threw a brew vessel astatine Carlos. She said, successful throwing nan vessel astatine Carlos, she started a conflict betwixt nan different female and 1 of nan victims. And aft first trying to de-escalate nan situation, she sewage involved.

Officers informed Christina that they saw surveillance of nan incident and that she was not being honorable astir what happened. They said that they saw her propulsion a vessel astatine nan victims, and she responded by saying she did not retrieve that.

The officers past told Christina that a stolen compartment telephone from nan incident had been pinged connected nan Find My Phone app adjacent her home. Christina told officers she would beryllium connected nan look retired for nan phone, according to nan affidavit. She said that she believed 1 of nan 2 suspects who had not been confirmed were nan ones who took nan phone.

Miguel provided a akin statement, saying he was not progressive successful nan conflict different than trying to break up nan antheral unfortunate and nan different antheral suspect. Like Christina, Miguel said he did not cognize thing astir nan stolen compartment phones and that he would beryllium connected nan look retired for them.

Following nan interview, officers informed some Christina and Miguel that they had been trespassed from nan barroom and were not longer welcomed there. Christina was cited for “theft of service” for taking her in installments paper without paying her tab. According to nan affidavit, she was apologetic and asked officers to walk her apologies on to nan unit astatine nan bar.

What now?

The affidavit does not picture nan continued investigation, but some Christina and Miguel were arrested connected May 7, 2024.

Miguel was released aft posting a $5,000 bond, while Christina was released connected her ain recognizance.

Though Miguel and Christina been charged pinch these crimes, it does not needfully mean they committed them. Everyone is presumed guiltless until they are proven guilty.

If they are recovered guilty, Miguel would look up to 20 years successful prison, while Christina would look up to five.