Witnesses have different accounts of how high-speed chase ended

A former deputy constable facing aggravated assault charges sits with no emotion as witnesses take the stand. 

A mother and son admit they were being nosy and that's why they pulled over to watch a high-speed chase unfold, but they both testified that pulling over almost led to them being hit head-on. While they saw the chase, other witnesses disagreed on how the high-speed chase ended in shots being fired.

Deputy Constable Mario Ramos is accused of shooting Juan Ortegon, who testified Thursday that he hadn't been armed.

Laurie and Zach Calderon testified that the evening of Aug. 16, 2008, they were headed to a birthday party. While traveling on Montwood near Lee Trevino they said, they saw a white car that was speeding mere feet behind a law enforcement car with lights flashing. The Calderons said Ramos clipped Ortegon, sending him across the median, nearly striking their truck. They said Ramos, who had lost control of his cruiser, quickly regained control and followed behind Ortegon again, but this time, it was in the opposite direction. 

Zach Calderon, who was only 13 at the time, says the lights from the cruiser traveled off into the distance, but he said, "I heard a loud bang. A few seconds later I heard another."

Calderon and his mother share a similar story to those of other witnesses.

"He was driving recklessly," said Shan Cogong.

El Paso County sheriff's deputies said back in 2008, Ramos was pulling over Ortegon, who was driving a white car, because he didn't have headlights, and said that's what started the chase.

"The white car flew past us," said Kimberly Cogong.

Cogong and his wife both took the stand Friday. They said on the evening in question they were headed to take their two daughters to Dairy Queen on Zaragoza. They were waiting at the intersection of Lee Trevino and Montwood, the same intersection the Calderons were headed to. Cogong said they saw the white car Ortegon was driving again, seconds after what the Calderons said they witnessed Ramos clip Ortegon.

"In my rear-view mirror I noticed emergency lights," said Kimberly.

She hesitantly pointed out that those emergency lights came from a constable's cruiser, identifying in court the driver was Ramos.

Several witnesses said the high-speed chase came to an abrupt end when the white car suddenly stopped.

"I saw the man in the white car start to run," said Kimberly.

"Did you ever see the man in the white car with a weapon?" asked Assistant District Attorney Dolores Reyes.

"No," answered Kimberly.

It's at that point in the story that Friday's witnesses have different accounts of what happened next.

"I saw the constable reach for something, then I heard gunshots," said Shan. "The constable did not run after him."

But Cecilia Morales, who was working on her front yard that night, said Ramos did run after him.

"I thought he was going to tackle him," she said.

"Did you ever hear any words between the man in the white car and the constable?" asked Reyes of Kimberly.

"No," she answered.

None of Friday's witnesses testified that Ramos had fired the gun. They all said they didn't see who it was.

The jury is not being sequestered but will be back to hear more testimony Monday morning.

Ramos is also facing sexual assault charges in a separate case. It's those charges that led to his firing as a deputy constable.