2 Suspects In Custody After Crime Spree On Lookout Mountain
GOLDEN, Colo. (CBS4)- Two suspects are facing charges stemming from a crime spree on Lookout Mountain that lasted nearly two hours.
Christopher David Sullivan and a female juvenile passenger were arrested after leading police on a chase across the mountain in Jefferson County.
The crime spree began when a Jefferson County Sheriff's deputy patrolling Lookout Mountain on Wednesday afternoon pulled over a white Ford Crown Victoria, that resembled an unmarked police car, for a traffic violation.
Driving the car was Sullivan, 37, with a juvenile passenger. When the deputy returned to his patrol car to conduct a records check, they sped away. The deputy lost sight of the car and other deputies, along with officers from the Colorado State Patrol and Golden Police Department began to search the mountain, looking for them.
During the time Sullivan and his female passenger tried to elude police, they stole three vehicles, burglarized two homes, menaced 12 innocent bystanders and left at least six separate crime scenes in their wake.
Copter4 flew over the suspects as they tried to get away. The Jeffco Sheriff said in a statement that the helicopter provided vital information as they tried to track down the suspects.
The female was eventually arrested on the mountainside and Sullivan was apprehended by a Jeffco Sheriff motorcycle officer who tackled him to the pavement on Interstate 70.
That officer is Deputy Fred Haggett, a 22-year veteran with the Jeffco Sheriff's Office. Haggett got off his motorcycle and demanded that Sullivan drop his weapon, but he refused.
"It's a momentary thought that I'm outgunned and I need to engage him. My sense was that he was trying to get into another vehicle, hijack another vehicle there on the highway and I couldn't let that happen," said Haggett.
Before being tackled deputies said Sullivan was walking around and pointing a long rifle and handgun at cars driving by along I-70.
"Split second, okay, it's not going to be a gun fight," said Haggett. "It isn't over until he's in custody."
A witness helped hold down Sullivan until deputies arrived.
"I'm very grateful for both of the gentlemen, the citizens who were willing to jump in and help out," said Haggett.
"We knew we had a very dangerous person or people with guns," said Jeffco Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Jacki Kelly. "Very brazen, very bold behavior and it's gotta stop. There's no question that we need to pursue it to the end."
Sullivan is being held on a $1 million bond at the Jefferson County Jail and is facing 13 possible charges including criminal attempt first-degree murder of a police officer, aggravated robbery, first-degree aggravated motor vehicle theft and criminal attempt first-degree aggravated motor vehicle theft, identity theft, theft and numerous warrants from previous crimes.
The juvenile female is being held at the Mount View Youth Detention Facility on charges of criminal attempt first-degree murder of a police officer, aggravated robbery, first-degree aggravated motor vehicle theft and criminal attempt first-degree aggravated motor vehicle theft.
Both suspects are also being investigated for other crimes that occurred prior to being arrested in Jefferson County.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone who believes they may have been a victim, a witness, or know of potential evidence regarding this crime spree and have not already spoken with the Sheriff's Office, to please call the tip line at 303-271-0211.
