Executive Summary
- Two people died when their stolen vehicle crashed into a pole while fleeing Aurora police on December 1.
- The Independent Consent Decree Monitor is reviewing the incident to ensure alignment with police reform mandates.
- Aurora Police stated they do not plan to change the pursuit policy, which was expanded in March to include stolen vehicles.
- Data shows a significant increase in police pursuits in Aurora following the policy change earlier this year.
Two occupants of a stolen vehicle were killed in Aurora, Colorado, on Monday, December 1, after their sedan crashed into a traffic light pole during a high-speed pursuit by the Aurora Police Department. The incident has prompted an immediate review by the independent monitor overseeing the city’s police reform efforts.
The Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office identified the deceased as driver Manuel Tovar, 52, and passenger Sheena Fuentes, 41. According to the Aurora Police Department, the pursuit was initiated after officers located a sedan reported stolen out of Fort Collins. Dashcam and city camera video footage released Wednesday depicts the vehicle speeding down South Peoria Street and weaving through traffic before losing control and striking a pole at the intersection with East Alameda Avenue. Both individuals died on impact.
Police officials reported that Fuentes had been arrested in October on charges of accessory to murder and was out on bond at the time of the crash. The department stated that Tovar also had a significant criminal history. In a statement addressing the incident, an Aurora police spokesperson asserted that the department has no plans to revise its pursuit policy, which was updated in March to allow officers to chase stolen vehicles. The spokesperson emphasized that the responsibility for the tragedy rests with the suspects’ decision to flee law enforcement.
Independent Monitor Jeff Schlanger, who oversees the city’s compliance with a 2021 consent decree mandated by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, confirmed that his team is conducting a preliminary review of the crash. Schlanger noted that the event underscores the "inherent risks" associated with vehicle pursuits. According to the monitor’s most recent report, the number of police chases has increased sharply since the policy revision, with 107 pursuits recorded between April 1 and August 15, compared to only three in the preceding period.
Oversight and Policy Review
This incident highlights the operational tension between the Aurora Police Department’s tougher stance on property crime and the safety mandates of the ongoing consent decree. The monitor’s upcoming analysis will likely evaluate whether the officers’ judgment and the supervisory oversight during the chase aligned with the broader reforms intended to reduce use-of-force risks. While the police department maintains that the pursuit fell within established guidelines, the monitor’s findings could lead to new recommendations regarding risk tolerance and officer training for high-speed interventions. It is important to note that all individuals accused of crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
