A man was arrested for allegedly hitting another man with his vehicle on purpose at Walmart in Cortez.
The incident took place about 6 p.m. July 18 after the men were removed from the store following a loud argument. The suspect, identified as Alonzo Curley, told officer Andrew Archer that the alleged victim, Shawn Nez, had been sleeping with his wife for the past six months.
Curley’s wife, Featherlea Curley, was in the passenger seat of the vehicle that allegedly struck Nez.
Featherlea Curley told Archer and officer Kolton Guttridge that Alonzo Curley was driving through the parking lot when he spotted Nez. He then sped up and said “he would run Shawn over.”
Although Featherlea Curley allegedly tried to take the wheel from her husband, she was unsuccessful. She estimated that he was driving about 10 mph when he struck Nez.
Sherry Basham, who witnessed the incident, told officers she saw the men head to their vehicles after they were removed from Walmart, 1835 E. Main St. After Alonzo Curley began leaving, the car accelerated and hit Nez, “making him flip in the air.”
“Sherry said she believed Alonzo intentionally was trying to run Shawn over,” Guttridge said.
Alonzo Curley was arrested for assault and taken to the Montezuma County Detention Center.
After Alonzo Curley’s arrest, Guttridge reviewed surveillance video at Walmart.
“You can see Alonzo turn north into row five and accelerate toward Shawn,” Guttridge said. “Alonzo swerved and hits Shawn with the front right bumper.”
Nez suffered minor injuries, with abrasions on his left shoulder, left flank and right hand, contusions on the left side of his scalp and a minor head injury.
