Watch CBS News

Dougherty Siblings Captured In Colorado

WALSENBURG (CBS4) – The FBI has confirmed three suspects believed to be the Dougherty siblings have been captured near Walsenburg.

It appears they were captured after a car chase ended a mile north of Walsenburg. Two were quickly arrested and the third was arrested on foot. Southbound Interstate 25 was closed during the investigation. It reopened just before 8 p.m. Until then, traffic was rerouted through Walsenburg.

Colorado State Patrol says the three suspects were checked for injuries, but are now being held at Pueblo County Jail.

Dougherty Map
(credit: CBS)

Ryan Edward Dougherty, 21; Dylan Dougherty Stanley, 26; and Lee Grace Dougherty, 29 were possibly spotted Tuesday in a small white vehicle with the stolen Texas license plate LCS 909 in Colorado Springs near I-25 and Woodmen Road attempting to buy camping equipment.

DOUGHERTY GANG CRIME SCENE
An image from the scene (credit: KKTV)

On Wednesday there were unconfirmed reports they may have been spotted trying to buy ammunition in Canon City. Police were pulling surveillance video to try to confirm that report.

The Doughertys had been the subject of a nationwide search for a week. The trio is accused of shooting at a police officer in Florida during a high-speed chase. Police said a couple hours later three people wearing masks robbed a bank in Valdosta, Ga. According to police one of the suspects used an AK-47 assault rifle. Another was believed to be using a "machine" pistol.

Watch a full report from Rick Sallinger and also listen to eyewitness accounts to the capture in the video below:

Watch a report from Jennifer Brice on the reaction from Florida on the capture of the Dougherty gang in video below:

On Wednesday morning, Colorado state troopers got a tip from somebody who saw the trio with a white Subaru with Texas plates at a campground near Colorado City.

"A Pueblo County sheriff's deputy spotted the vehicle at a gas station near exit 74 on I-25. The Colorado State Patrol attempted to initiate a traffic stop at this location. The suspect vehicle failed to yield to law enforcement and a pursuit ensued," CSP said in a prepared statement.

CSP spokesperson Heather Cobbler told CBS4 shots were fired at law enforcement during the pursuit.

The chase ended with the suspects' car rolling over after officers deployed "stop sticks" on southbound I-25 at mile marker 52 near Walsenburg.

Dougherty Capture
An image of the suspects' car after the crash (credit:CBS)

Cobbler said at least one of the siblings was hit by gunfire, but was suffering from a non life-threatening injury. She couldn't confirm any other injuries to the suspects.

No police officers were injured in the incident.

"We continuously said that if these three fugitives wanted a battle with law enforcement, we would win that battle. And that's what happened today," said Pasco County, Fla., Sheriff Chris Nocco said at a news conference after the capture.

Watch the entire news conference on the capture in the video below:

The Associated Press contacted the siblings' mother, Barbara Bell of East Palatka, Fla. She had no comment.

The three siblings had been living together in Lacoochee, Fla. They all have criminal records. Ryan Dougherty ditched an ankle monitor he had been wearing for sending a sexually explicit text to an 11-year-old girl. Lee Dougherty had been charged with battery and had a hit-and-run charge pending. Stanley was charged with possession of marijuana.

It was confirmed by police in Florida that Ryan Dougherty bought an AK-47 assault rifle two years ago at a pawn shop. It's the same style as the gun used in the George bank robbery.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.