On June 30, 2021, at around 1:26 PM, members of the Sheriff's Office Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU) were in the Stratmoor Valley neighborhood in unincorporated El Paso County conducting surveillance in regard to an investigation into thefts from area construction sites. A vehicle associated to their investigation departed the area occupied by two men. CIU deputies initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle but it fled and was not pursued.
CIU and Sheriff's Office Tactical Support Unit (TSU) deputies later located the vehicle in the area of South Hancock Avenue and Norwood Avenue. The vehicle was still occupied by two men. TSU deputies used their vehicles to block the suspect vehicle in. The driver used the vehicle to ram TSU vehicles in an attempt to flee but was unsuccessful. The occupants were taken into custody and are identified as Matthew Porter (04/23/87) and Joseph Long (02/24/91). Additionally, a Wendi Porter (09/12/65) was subsequently taken into custody at a home in the area of the original surveillance in regard to this investigation as well as for numerous outstanding warrants.
While deputies were processing the scene, Mr. Long escaped from the back seat of a Sheriff's Office vehicle and fled into the surrounding neighborhood on foot. Assistance was immediately requested from the EPSO's Patrol Division, the Regional Fugitives Unit (RFU), the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD), and the Colorado State Patrol (CSP). CSPD K9 officers were deployed as well as CSPD drone assets. An Everbridge (public safety notification) was sent out notifying residents in the area of police activity and to shelter in place.
After a lengthy search, Mr. Long was located and taken back into custody in the 1900 block of Rand Avenue. All three suspects were arrested and booked into the Jail with the following charges:
Wendi Porter : Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd Degree Burglary/Forgery
Matthew Porter : Possession of a Controlled Substance/Attempt to Influence a Public Official/
2nd Degree Burglary/Criminal Impersonation/Theft/Criminal Mischief/Parole Violation
Joseph Long : Parole Violation/Escape/Criminal Mischief/Felony Eluding/1st Degree Trespass/2nd Degree Trespass/Possession of a Weapon by a Previous Offender.
The Sheriff's Office would like to thank the RFU, CSPD, and the CSP for their invaluable assistance as well as residents in the area of this incident for their timely eye-witness reports that directly led to locating Mr. Long.
Mugshots of all suspects are attached to this media release.
