Suspect then Steals Cruiser and Crashes
Written By: Web Producer Susan Wells, and
Web Producer Sean Piper - 5/13/02
LAKEWOOD, CO - A 27-year-old man who
led officers on a 35-mile high speed chase
was wanted on four warrants. He is now
facing several more charges.
The man attacked a Park County deputy with pepper
spray and stole her patrol car Monday morning. The
incident triggered a high-speed chase through two
counties and ended in Lakewood, when a state patrol
officer ran the suspect off the road.
The trouble started around 9:30 a.m. along Highway 285
near Bailey. Deputy Kelly Black pulled over the suspect,
whose name has not been released, for a routine traffic
stop. He ran from Black, who chased him through a populated
area. During the foot chase, Black was sprayed with
pepper spray. The suspect then ran back to the deputy's
car and stole it.
A chase ensued northbound on Highway 285, reaching
speeds at up to 90 mph. Police say the suspect ran cars
off the road and even went the wrong way on the highway
at one point.
The chase ended between Kipling and Wadsworth on
Hampden Ave, more than 30 miles from where it started.
A state trooper was able to run the car off the road.
Three tires were already blown out from officers setting
up stop sticks on Highway 8.
The suspect was taken to the hospital for minor injuries
and released into police custody. The deputy was not
seriously injured.
"Anytime you have a patrol car that's stolen, gosh, just
the odds of having a chase end this nicely as I would put
it, is so great," said Fred Wegener, Park County Sheriff's
Department. "I mean there is no way I could have ever thought
the outcome was going to be this."
The suspect has a police record including resisting arrest,
car theft, domestic violence and drug use. He faces new charges
or assault, vehicular assault, eluding an officer and felony
menacing.
Back
http://www.9news.com/storyfull.asp?id=2834