On March 18, 2026, at approximately 8:03 PM, patrol deputies with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 11150 block of East Highway 24 to locate and arrest 61-year-old Rodney Cordova, who was wanted on charges of Second-Degree Assault – Strangulation and Felony Menacing.
Upon arrival, deputies located Cordova’s vehicle at the residence and confirmed he was inside. Additional occupants exited the home voluntarily.
Deputies established a perimeter and made multiple attempts to contact Cordova by telephone to reach a peaceful resolution. Based on information in the arrest warrant and witness statements, deputies believed Cordova was armed with a firearm.
Due to this information and the lack of cooperation from Cordova, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiators were called to the scene.
After Cordova refused repeated attempts at communication, the tactical team deployed chemical irritants to safely compel him to exit the residence. Shortly thereafter, Cordova exited but initially failed to comply with lawful commands. Pepper ball irritants were then deployed, after which Cordova complied and was taken into custody without further incident.
“Thanks to the professionalism and restraint of our deputies, this dangerous situation was resolved safely,” said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “When we have reason to believe an individual is armed and has a history of violent behavior, we take every precaution to protect lives while working toward a peaceful resolution. I’m proud of the teamwork shown by our patrol deputies, SWAT Team, and Crisis Negotiators in bringing this incident to a safe conclusion.”
Rodney Cordova was transported to the El Paso County Jail and booked on the following charges:
-Second Degree Assault
-Menacing
-Crimes Against an At-Risk Person
-Harassment
-Third Degree Assault
Cordova is currently being held on a $25,000 bond.