08/31/15 Denver, CO – Officers Respond To Hit And Run On Foot Call – Suspect Steals The Denver Unmarked Car With A Shotgun – Suspect Crashes Two More Times With The Unmarked – Escaped

August 31, 2015

denver.cbslocal.com

Police in Denver have recovered a stolen police car that was the subject of an hours-long search on Friday afternoon and evening. The weapon that was inside the car was also recovered but the suspect remained at large on Friday evening.

It all started when police responded to the scene of a hit-and-run near Dakota and Clay on Friday afternoon. When an officer got out of his vehicle to investigate, the suspect jumped in and started driving.

“If he stole a police car I don’t think he will hesitate to shoot somebody if he has the opportunity,” said neighbor Jamie Garcia.

The vehicle is a gold colored Chrysler 300 with Colorado license plate 453-MNZ.

Police confirmed in a tweet that they located the car in the 4600 block of West 6th Avenue.

Police confirmed they also recovered the shotgun in the vehicle. The suspect remained at large at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

A witness captured an image of the man police believe they are looking for as he was running from the first hit-and-run scene. Anyone who sees the man is urged to call 911 immediately.

Copter4 flew over the original crash scene near Dakota and Clay where two vehicles were badly damaged. Two women were injured in that crash.

Garcia believes the suspect had been drinking.

“He was drunk and he was real scared,” said Garcia. “He was disoriented and he couldn’t stand up.”

Police say the officer driving the gold Chrysler 300 just happened to be in the neighborhood when he saw the crash and apparently left his car vulnerable to the suspect.

After the suspect drove away in the officer’s car, police gave chase and the suspect crashed two more times, first crashing one block away and then causing a third accident less than two miles away at Arkansas and Irving. The driver was not injured but said it was scary.

“Guy who apparently stole an undercover police car pulled out in front of me, I swerved into the oncoming lane as he cut inside of me and he sideswiped my back corner and kept going,” said Kyle Rebert.