Conflicting portraits of Valencia

Alan Gathright and Julie Poppen

Monday, May 19, 2008

Odiceo Valencia worked hard, loved his family, boss said

Odiceo Valencia is remembered as a devoted dad by his daughter and a joke-loving, hard worker by his boss.

But the 45-year-old immigrant had grown increasingly despondent over a months-long separation from his wife and three children. He struggled with worsening diabetes.

Valencia had also been twice accused of violence against his wife before he was shot to death by police after brandishing a knife outside the family's Montbello home Saturday as his children and neighbors watched in horror.

Valencia immigrated to the U.S. from Jalisco, Mexico, when he was in his 20s. His legal status could not be determined Monday.

"He was a hard-working man who loved his family," said Bob Macias, who owns the Denver insulation firm where Valencia worked about a year.

"I knew that he was very, very sad that he couldn't be with his family," Macias said, adding that Valencia spoke of possibly needing a divorce attorney.

Co-workers were stunned Monday to learn that the laid-back "company clown" had died in a confrontation with police, Macias said.

Court records show Valencia had a dark side, especially when he drank.

Valencia's wife, Altagracia Medina, filed an April 21 complaint accusing him of assault and petty theft.

The incident caused a judge to issue a protective order prohibiting Valencia from contacting his wife or visiting the family home.

Valencia, who faced a June 24 jury trial in the domestic violence case, also was barred from possessing weapons or drinking alcohol, according to the court order.

Yet, Valencia was intoxicated and carrying a knife Saturday, Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson said.

• May 20, 2008

  5:24 a.m.

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  happymike44 writes:

  Well that answrs the question of how he got diabetes.The guy had a knife and a restraining order against him.He was no innocent victim here.The victims are the cop who had to deal with this drunken idiot.He was drunk and presented a threat to the people at the party.He got rubbed out to bad,now the family will try to play the megamillion jackpot.You killed him we want a million dollars for doing it to him.Boo hoo all the way to the bank.Well let's surprise them by deporting them and viola they are gone.No jackpot and no more welfare or free healthcare.The average american can't afford to go to a hospital but they can.Why it is free and they just refuse to pay the bill period.So who pays the american taxpayer.Throw these bums out and send them back to mexico.Problem solved and millions saved,if you don't belong here you have no immigrant rights you are a illegal mexican army invading our country.Take a good look at mexico and look what they have done to their country.That is what they want to do to America.Send them home without so much as a good bye.

• May 20, 2008

  5:51 a.m.

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  BikerChick writes:

  ..
  This is a perfect example of sanctuary processes gone wrong, and an illegal alien who is a seasoned scofflaw. This jerk has been in the USA illegally for 20 years, crossing into California from Jalisco, Mexico.

  His rap sheet, which the media ignores, has 11 pages of priors in Colorado - PLUS the priors in California with another name and date of birth.

  The reporters are certainly lazy, certainly biased, and certainly sympathetic to the 'plight' of the poor, pitiful immigrant family. Their choice of words and phrases are intended to please the Chamber of Commerce.

  If the local, county, state and federal law-enforcement authorities and the Denver District Attorney (all but one case during the reign of Bill Ritter) had worked together to do their job, Mr. Valencia would have been deported to Mexico - alive and well today.

  The records reveal that YOUR elected and appointed officials are guilty of malfeasance, conspiracy and collusion. Instead of reporting the real truth, the progressive reporters for the progressive news media shelter and protect a criminal alien and hammer the local cops. Not clever.

  When John Hickenlooper and Gerry Whitman and Mitch Morrissey and Bill Ritter and Bishop Charles Chaput get it - and realize that their sanctuary processes have resulted in horrible accusations against loyal and brave cops... maybe they will understand why across the board enforcement, to include cooperation and close teamwork with DHS-ICE, is what the elelctorate desires and demands, these incidents will be PREVENTED. Not until.

  The voters MUST realize the depth of the malfeasance, and demand that the Colorado Attorney General investigate and prosecute the authoriities who are feeding this gorilla. Enough is enough.
  ..

• May 20, 2008

  7:58 a.m.

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  artstarzz writes:

  I am happy to see the numbers drop . The Haters are losing members . What will they do when all they have is each other ? When something like this happen it should concern us all . It looks like this man was not perfect . Who is ? Throw the first stone . Or should I say fire the first shot . Our boys in blue need better training . The city cannot afford to lose any more money because some cowboy cop can't control his or her self .

• May 20, 2008

  7:59 a.m.

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  artstarzz writes:

  Peace to the Valencia family .

• May 20, 2008

  10:38 a.m.

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  Really writes:

  This coward knew exactly what was going on and he absoluetly understood the police commands. (The guy was here 20+ years and he was not exposed to any English???) He was so intent on dying but was afraid to do it himself so he forced the police to do it for him. Now the family that isolated theselves from him are trying to put him in for a father of the year award so they can attempt a BS lawsuit. Kudos to the officers, you gave this loser more than enough opportunities to surrender and get assistance.

  By the way, this probably wouldn't have happened in Mexico. (Something for the family to consider!)

• May 20, 2008

  10:47 a.m.

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  redwhiteandBLUE writes:

  Anytime the perpetrator has a weapon , a knife, a gun, even an ice pic
  it,s considered a weapon and police are trained to shoot and protect themselves. It doesnt matter the nationality. You can't call the police and then tell them what to do, they do what they think is best for their safety. That's the way it is.
  This guy was wrong and no ones to blame but himself, he did it to his family.

• May 20, 2008

  12:42 p.m.

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  sheepherder writes:

  Artstarzz...maybe you should sign up so you can do a better job. I'm sure you comment on our military as well...and I'm damn sure you could put a fire out better than those people! Now go flip your burgers or the manager will fire you....moron.

• May 20, 2008

  4:06 p.m.

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  smart_alec writes:

  I feel pity for those who take the loss of life so lightly. It doesn't matter where he was from, his death is a tragedy.

• May 20, 2008

  6:51 p.m.

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  HollyGoLightly writes:

  Where is the guy's rap sheet from Colorado and California? How do you find that information?
  If it is true that he had a past for any type of personal violence against others, that may have factored into the police decision to shoot after the other methods (pepper spray, taser) failed. In between the time the cops arrived to the home and the time the guy showed up again, I'm sure the cops ran his name through the database.
  Due to a few trigger happy cops, every situation involving police and a fatality is now viewed as the fault of the police. Sadly, in this case, the statements of the family and neighbors are conflicting which lead me to believe they are the ones not giving the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

• May 20, 2008

  7:44 p.m.

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  FeedUp writes:

  In this country for 25 years and still couldn't speak english? come on!!!!!!!

• May 20, 2008

  7:55 p.m.

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  redwhiteandBLUE writes:

  Holly,
  Google KHOW630 Peter Boyles. This guys whole rap sheet is there for viewing, all 11 pages.