Dead Woman's Family Stages Protest Outside Evans Police Office
EVANS, Colo. (CBS4) - Chants of "Justice for Ashley!" echoed through the streets of Evans on Sunday in an unusual protest that was staged outside the Evans Police Department.
Family and friends of Ashley Fallis claim she was killed two years ago and that the crime was covered up by an Evans officer. The official cause of Fallis' 2012 death was a suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at her home.
Fallis' family members say her husband Tom, a former Weld County sheriff's deputy, had something to do with the death and that statements from key witnesses were omitted or changed from the original police report, including a statement from Ashley's 6-year-old daughter.
"From Day 1 we knew that they were not doing what they needed to do," said Jenna Fox, Ashley's mother, on Sunday.
The case has been reopened as a result of the allegations, and Fort Collins and Loveland police departments are handling the new investigations. Family members say that's not enough, though. They want the original detective who worked on the case fired.
"He is still working for the Evans police Department, has not been put on administrative leave or anything and that is why we are here," said Joel Raguindin, Ashley's father.
Most of the protesters held up signs, with some saying "Police Cover-Up" and "Evans Police … Corrupt."
"As law enforcement agencies they are supposed to serve and protect the public. They did not do that. They did not do that and that is why we are here," Raguindin said.
CBS4 reached out to the Evans Police Department for comment on the protest and they said they would not be discussing the case.