DENVER – A pair of Denver Sheriff Department deputies face multi-day suspensions for, among other things, a failure to show “urgency in reporting or searching for” an inmate who ran away from them during a medical transport in March, 9Wants to Know has learned.
Deputy Stephen Hernandez, a 22-year veteran of the department, will start a 14-day suspension on New Year’s Eve and Deputy Jason Leyshon, a 13-year veteran of the department, will start a six-day suspension the day after Christmas – each for multiple violations and “failure to perform duties” related to the escape of Mauricio Venzor-Gonzalez, an attempted murder suspect, according to Denver Public Safety Department records.
On March 19, Hernandez and Leyshon transported three Denver jail inmates to Denver Health Medical Center for scheduled medical appointments, including Venzor-Gonzalez, who had been scheduled for an orthopedic appointment.
Months before the escape, Venzor-Gonzalez he had been shot and wounded by Denver police officers during what police described as a shootout. He sustained injuries in his left arm, right leg and right foot, Department of Safety records show. He was allowed to use crutches while incarcerated and had crutches with him during the transport to Denver Health.
The Denver Sheriff Department Internal Affairs Bureau reviewed the escape, and, in reports, state that the deputies failed to restrain any of the three inmates that were being transported, in violation of department policy.
Shortly after arriving in the hospital’s sallyport – or secured entryway -- Venzor-Gonzalez “dropped…crutches and ran toward the gate and began to climb,” the reports state.
Hernandez and Leyshon failed to immediately report the escape and, according to Internal Affairs, waited approximately six minutes before they started searching for the inmate.
The reports further state that the deputies did not immediately notify Denver Police because they “failed to have [their] radio on DPD dispatch per policy while transporting inmates.”
Hours after Venzor-Gonzalez escaped, Denver police officers chased an SUV they believed at the time was occupied by Venzor-Gonzalez.
It wasn’t – and at the end of the chase, officers shot and killed Steven Nguyen and wounded a passenger in the car.
The shooting was later ruled to be justified by the Denver District Attorney.
Venzor-Gonzalez was ultimately captured in August in Thornton.
