GREELEY, Colo. — A man now facing a murder charge in connection with a deadly stabbing in Greeley told police he confronted the victim at the laundromat because he believed that man had tried to "rob" his car previously, an arrest affidavit says.
On March 24, Greeley Police officers were called to the Coin Laundry at 1800 Greeley Mall for a report of a disturbance between two men. When officers arrived, they found a 36-year-old man outside the business who had been stabbed several times, according to police. Officers performed lifesaving measures until medics arrived, police said.
The victim was taken to the hospital with severe injuries but later died, according to police.
The suspect, 40-year-old Michael Vergara, drove to a church parking lot and called 911 to report where officers could find him. During a pat down, officers found a pocket knife in his pocket, and according to the affidavit, Vergara said he had used it to stab the victim.
When police later interviewed Vergara, he said he believed the victim was an "informant" for Greeley Police and that he worked with "corrupt" officers," the affidavit says. He went on to say that the victim tried to "rob" his car a few years ago at the direction of those corrupt officers, the document says.
Vergara said he spotted the victim in the laundromat and the victim gave him a "side eye," the affidavit says. He said he confronted the victim after recognizing him as the person he believed tried to rob him.
There was a physical fight between the two and during it, the victim was stabbed. When asked why he stabbed the victim, Vergara said he had "no choice" because he was being assaulted. When asked why he didn't just leave and call the police, Vergara cited his "mistrust" of police, the affidavit says.
Vergara was taken into custody and booked into the Weld County jail on suspicion of first-degree murder, police said.
Investigators found records of a prior disturbance involving the suspect and victim in September 2022. In that incident, Vergara reported that a woman in a CRV threatened to kill him. According to the affidavit, Vergara said the woman reported to be with the FBI, and said the male passenger may have had a gun. He then chased the CRV in his car, according to the document.
When contacted by police, the people in the CRV, which included the stabbing victim, claimed they were the victims. No one was arrested in connection with that incident.
The Weld County Coroner's Office will release the identity of the victim.
Anyone who has not spoken to law enforcement and has information about the incident, is asked to call Detective Finch at 970-350-9682 or email elizabeth.finch@greeleyPD.com.
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