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Police Suspect Drug Deal Led To Assault At Light Rail Station

Beating
(credit: Denver Police)

DENVER (CBS4) - The fifth and final suspect has been arrested in the brutal beating and robbery of a man last month that was caught on videotape at an RTD light rail station at 30th and Downing.

CBS4 has learned that police arrested Leopoldo Maes, 23, last Friday, one month after after the fierce assault.

One other adult -- Daishawn Matthews, 18 -- and three juveniles, had previously been arrested in connection with the case.

Court records show Maes was arrested last Friday and was being held in the Denver jail on a single felony aggravated robbery charge along with a failure to appear case.

Authorities declined to release Maes' mugshot, saying interviews are still being conducted.

The jarring video showed five suspects brutally assaulting Gregory Moscato, 23, at the 30th and Downing light rail station, punching him and stomping on him then fleeing, with Moscato appearing to lay unconscious. The Denver Police Department came under heavy criticism for not releasing the video and warning light rail riders until three weeks after the assault and robbery.

Chief Robert White later said that was a mistake.

"In hindsight we absolutely should have released this information earlier to the community," he said.

Multiple police sources connected to the investigation have now told CBS4 the widely publicized incident does not appear to be a random robbery. Two police officials say Moscato was acquainted with the alleged assailants and the beating was the result of an anticipated drug deal that did not pan out.

Raquel Lopez, a DPD spokesperson, told CBS4 that the Denver District Attorney's office has agreed to charge all five suspects with aggravated robbery. But police sources who asked they not be identified said the investigation has been hindered because Moscato has been uncooperative and has not met with investigators to assist in their probe.

"We do not have a comment regarding the victim or his interaction with us," said Lt. Matt Murray, a department spokesperson. "We have identified and arrested all of the parties who are suspects in the video and will present the facts of the case as we have them to the District Attorney."

Lynn Kimbrough, a spokesperson for the Denver District Attorney's Office, declined to discuss specifics of the 30th and Downing case, but said prosecutors frequently charge suspects, even with uncooperative victims.

She said in many domestic violence cases, victims decline to assist in the investigation but suspects are still charged. Kimbrough said charges would be formally filed Wednesday against Leopoldo Maes.

- Written by Brian Maass for CBSDenver.com

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