Third round of charges filed

A Green River woman faces five more charges after she allegedly used her car as a deadly weapon for the third time within the last five months.

Heather L. Ortega, 41, was scheduled to appear for an arraignment in the Third District Court of Judge Lavery on three felony charges of aggravated assault and battery and two misdemeanor charges; possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and failure to maintain liability insurance. However, the arraignment on these charges never occurred and an order for an evaluation for competency to proceed and suspend proceedings was approved by Judge Lavery.

The order for the evaluation states “Heather Ortega shall be examined by the Wyoming State Hospital to determine fitness to proceed.” The order also states the reports should include detailed findings and an opinion as to whether Ortega has a mental illness or deficiency and its probable duration, an opinion as to whether the mental illness of deficiency hinders her ability to comprehend the nature and the proceedings against her, a recommendation on whether Ortega should be held in a designated facility for treatment pending determination by the court of the issue of mental fitness and a recommendation on whether Ortega is mentally fit to proceed with court hearings.

This is not the first time, Ortega has allegedly tried to run someone over with her vehicle. In December of 2014, she was charged with felony aggravated assault and battery after she allegedly tried to run over Brewer’s sister.

Not even a month later, Ortega was charged with felony aggravated assault and battery, two counts of felony property destruction and defacement, a misdemeanor charge of duty to stop vehicle where accident involves damage to attended vehicle or property, and a misdemeanor charge of failure to maintain liability coverage. These charges stemmed from Ortega allegedly hitting the Green River Glass building with her car and allegedly hitting Brewer’s car multiple times with her car.

The latest charges came a month later.

According to court documents, on Feb. 18, 2015, Green River Police officers responded to the area of East Third South for a domestic dispute report.

Upon arrival, an officer observed a 2003 BMW and a female he recognized as Heather Ortega sitting in the vehicle. He also saw Gary Brewer on foot in the same area.

The officer soon learned that Ortega had been calling and texting Brewer on Feb. 17, 2015. Brewer said he was at his residence on Shoshone Avenue when Ortega arrived and they started arguing. Brewer said he left his residence on his bicycle; and noticed Ortega had followed him. He said she began to drive circles around him when he was on his bike. Brewer told the officer he believed Ortega was going to hit him with her vehicle while he was on his bike, however he was able to get away from her and get into his vehicle, which was parked in front of an apartment building.

Brewer said he tried to leave the area, but Ortega blocked him in with her vehicle. Brewer said in order to get away from her, he put his vehicle in reverse and used his vehicle to push Ortega’s vehicle out of the way.

Once Brewer had his vehicle free, he drove westbound on Shoshone Avenue, but just before he got to the turn on Uinta Drive, Ortega allegedly side-swiped his vehicle with her vehicle, which caused Brewer to drive up onto the curb near the Sweetwater County Joint Communications Center.

Brewer said he then made his way to Uinta Drive and drove to the area of East Third South. He was attempting to park his car on South Fifth East when Ortega allegedly hit the front of his vehicle with her vehicle. Brewer said after the hit, the vehicles were connected, so he accelerated his vehicle to push Ortega’s away from his.

He was able to push her vehicle out of the way and get his car parked in front of the residence he was going to. Brewer got out of his vehicle, but Ortega stayed in hers. Brewer told the officer he kicked her car and spat on her windshield. Brewer said as he was walking Ortega drove by him, allegedly nearly hitting him. Ortega traveled to the end of the roadway, turned around and parked her vehicle in front of Brewer’s vehicle.

This is about the time the officer had arrived and he saw that Ortega’s vehicle was steaming from damage to the radiator.

There was also severe front-end damage, including damage to the bumper, grill, hood, driver and passenger side fenders, driver and passenger-side mirrors, and damage to the rear bumper and driver side fender. Due to the damage to Ortega’s vehicle, the officer called for a tow truck.

Prior to the vehicle being towed, the officer was completing an inventory of what was in the vehicle. While he was doing this, he noticed Ortega was trying to conceal a black, nylon bag between the passenger seat and center console. The officer took the bag and looked inside. He allegedly found three small plastic vials inside that contained residue of a white, powdery substance. The officer also observed an alleged glass pipe with a white, powdery substance residue inside, it was wrapped in a blue-colored handkerchief.

After Ortega was placed under arrest, the officer noticed a blue and purple colored handkerchief in her front pocket. He opened it and found several glass shards that appeared to have come from a glass pipe. All of the residue was tested and allegedly tested positive for methamphetamine.

The officer also noticed Ortega allegedly did not have insurance.