Liquor Store Robbery Suspect Strikes Deputy, Another Deputy Shoots Suspect

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (CBS4) - A liquor store robbery suspect struck an Arapahoe County Sheriff's deputy with his car and then another deputy shot the suspect early Tuesday morning.

It happened about 12:30 a.m. at the Arapahoe Village Shopping Center located at 5050 East Arapahoe Road in Centennial.

After the suspect robbed the liquor store, he tried to get away but plowed into a concrete column and dragged concrete across the parking lot.

When officers arrived, they tried to catch up to the suspect. That's when he rammed his vehicle into the squad cars. One deputy was hit by the suspect's car and was taken to the hospital. The deputy does not have any serious injuries.

"When the car took off, we followed and it struck one deputy on foot, injuring the deputy, another one on the scene out here fired at the suspect, hitting him one time," said Arapahoe County Sheriff Bureau Chief Vince Line.

A second deputy then shot the suspect, who was also transported to the hospital, with non-life threatening injuries.

Officials reopened the shopping plaza at about 5:40 a.m., while the parking area around the suspect vehicle remained blocked off during the investigation.

The liquor store that was robbed reopened Tuesday morning. The woman working in the store told CBS4 her brother was working when the store was robbed. He is doing okay given the circumstances.

Other business owners said they are surprised by what happened and are glad there wasn't any serious damage.

"It could have been a lot worse. All he did was knock out the column. the car didn't end up inside the store so that doesn't interfere with business, " said Wintson Hill's BBQ Owner Ron Mitchell. "Usually I have a table out here but it's raining out here today so I wouldn't have it out anyway. I worked out as well as expected."

The suspect's name has not been released. Deputies did not confirm whether the suspect had a gun.