Montezuma Co. CO - Suspect Assaults Under Sheriff - Steals Montezuma Co. Sheriff's SUV - Chase - Crash
Suspect hits Under Sheriff's and steals car, crashes
in draw.
Chase in Sheriff's Office vehicle ends north of Cortez
Saturday, April 21st 2007
A man was arrested Friday after he allegedly assaulted the Montezuma County
under sheriff, stole his vehicle and then crashed it.
Montezuma County Undersheriff Dave Hart confers with Sgt. Jason Spruell on
Friday after Hart was allegedly assaulted by Joshua Hatch, who stole Hart’s
patrol car. A chase ended when Hatch ran off County Road P north of Cortez.
Under Sheriff Dave Hart was responding to a domestic dispute call at County
Roads • and 28 about 4:30 p.m. Friday when the incident occurred.
Hart was the closest deputy near the area, so he was first on the scene, said
Montezuma County Sheriff Gerald Wallace.
Once he arrived, Hart was speaking to a man identified as Joshua Hatch and was
trying to calm him down, Wallace said.
When Hatch heard sirens from another deputy’s vehicle, he panicked, Wallace
said.
At that point Hatch punched Hart in the face, pushed him and stole the under
Sheriff’s vehicle, Wallace said.
There was a pursuit that ended when Hatch ran the unmarked Sheriff’s Office
vehicle through a fence, across a creek and into an embankment near County Roads
P and 25.
Hatch likely will be charged for assaulting an officer, Wallace said. He
was taken to Southwest Memorial Hospital by patrol car so cuts on his face could
be examined. The extent of Hart’s injuries were unknown at press time Friday
afternoon, but he was seen walking and talking at the accident site.
Wallace said officials likely will pursue additional charges against Hatch to
pay for the damages he caused to the vehicle.