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Grandma of accused cop-killer could lose reward
By Fernando Quintero, Rocky Mountain News
July 28, 2005

Whether or not the grandmother of accused cop-killer Raul Gomez-Garcia qualifies for the $100,000 reward that was offered for his capture is a "gray area," say Crime Stoppers officials.

On June 4, Florencia Castañeda Rodriguez led her grandson to a tiny corner grocery store in Culiacán, Mexico, and into the hands of waiting federal officials. His capture followed a massive four-week manhunt.

She said she turned him over to police because she felt it was the right thing to do. She added that authorities told her there was some reward money for her cooperation.

But Crime Stoppers spokesman Detective Steve Antuña in Denver said Wednesday that Rodriguez or anyone else interested in collecting a reward must initially contact his group with a tip.

Antuña said it's unclear whether Rodriguez qualified for the reward because she cooperated with Mexican police and did not call Crime Stoppers with the information that led to her grandson's arrest.

"We've had discussions about this," said Larry Carstensen, board president of the Denver Metro Crime Stoppers program. "Basically, it's a gray area. No one has formally applied for the reward."

Carstensen said his group is still trying to get clarification about whether Rodriguez's cooperation would qualify as a tip received by Crime Stoppers or whether her involvement was simply part of "routine police work."

Antuña added that officials won't consider giving out the reward unless Gomez-Garcia is returned to the United States. If Gomez-Garcia is extradited, a five-member Crime Stoppers board will review the issue.

Someone with information can alert Crime Stoppers through a 24-hour tip line. Callers who wish to remain anonymous may do so. If the information provided by the caller leads to an arrest by police and acceptance of the case by the district attorney, a cash award may be made to the tipster.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez, who was busy patching up her leaky tin roof with pieces of cardboard as she spoke from her home near Culiacán, said she was hoping to use part of the reward money to visit Gomez-Garcia, who is in a Mexico City jail.

He is accused of fatally shooting Denver police Detective Donald Young and wounding Detective John Bishop while they were working off-duty security at a baptism party May 8.

Rodriguez, who earns a living by scooping up ears of corn left by harvesters and embroidering napkins, said a $100,000 reward, the equivalent of more than 1 million pesos, would not only provide her with the money she needs to visit her grandson - it would change her life dramatically.

"I would hire an attorney to help set up a meeting with my grandson, and I would get a new roof - perhaps a new house," she said. "I am very poor. I am 61 years old. I am having trouble feeding my family."

Crime Stoppers programs are operated as nonprofit organizations and managed by a volunteer board of directors who take responsibility for fundraising and paying out rewards.

Crime Stoppers began in Albuquerque in September 1976 and is a partnership involving communities, the media and law enforcement agencies. There are some 1,200 Crime Stoppers programs in communities around the world.