Police Release Gripping Video Of Officer Being Injured As Suspect Flees
SHERIDAN, Colo. (CBS4) - Police in Sheridan have released video of a driver injuring an officer while trying to get away from police, and officers are still searching for the suspect.
According to police, at approximately 8 a.m. Sunday officers responded to a call about a suspicious person and vehicle at the 7-Eleven store located at 4096 South Federal Boulevard. Officers contacted the man and he gave them false information.
"The officers got the subject out of the vehicle. When the officers determined who he was and attempted to arrest him he jumped back into the still running car," police said in a statement. "A Sheridan officer attempted to stop the subject from fleeing and became trapped between the open driver's door and the driver's seat as the suspect accelerated in reverse."
On Wednesday police released surveillance video of the dramatic getaway. It shows the officer nearly being killed while the driver reverses the car and accelerates.
The officer fell to the ground and was injured when the suspect fled the scene. Another officer followed in pursuit but the chase was called off when police were able to positively identify the suspect.
Police have identified the suspect at Ismael Rayos, 24, of Lakewood. Police say he later crashed his vehicle in Denver and a .380 caliber handgun was recovered from his vehicle.
The injured officer, whose name hasn't been released, was taken to the hospital. He suffered scrapes, multiple contusions, and a sprained ankle. According to Chief Mark Campbell, he's now recovering at home until he's cleared to return on duty.
Campbell said an accident reconstruction determined the officer was airborne for 23 feet.
Police said they captured the whole incident on a body camera but aren't releasing the video yet because it's evidence.
CBS4 found a nine-page criminal history report for Rayos with a plethora of arrests for all sorts of crimes such as felony theft and driving offenses
Anybody who knows the whereabouts of Rayos is asked to call police immediately.
