1 Suspect Rams Deputy's Cruiser With Car, Another Strikes Deputy On Foot With Jeep
GOLDEN, Colo. (CBS4) - A Jefferson County sheriff's deputy suffered minor injuries after he was deliberately struck by a vehicle while investigating vehicle break-ins Saturday night.
Just after 10:30 p.m. Saturday deputies spotted a Jeep Wrangler that fit the description of a vehicle suspected in connection with vehicle break-ins. but then lost sight of it. Just before midnight deputies once again located the Jeep, which was now accompanied by a Volkswagen in the area of West Remington Avenue and South Kipling Parkway. The Volkswagen was an unreported stolen car out of Jefferson County, according to the sheriff's office.
"As they drove toward a gated community on West Remington, the Jeep made a U-turn leaving the area, and simultaneously, the Volkswagen, which was driven by a male suspect, rear-ended one of the deputy's patrol cars," Jacki Kelley with the sheriff's office said in a statement.
As the deputies were trying to arrest the suspect that rammed their vehicle the driver of the Jeep returned and struck a deputy, causing minor injuries.
"Both deputies exited their cars and were struggling with the uncooperative suspect from the Volkswagen when the Jeep returned and struck one of the deputies," Kelley said. "The suspect from the Volkswagen then ran to the Jeep, jumped in, and fled the area."
Mark Techmeyer with the sheriff's office later told CBS4's Melissa Garcia that the deputy is lucky that he wasn't killed.
"Hit him in the back, and throwing him a number of feet away," Techmeyer said. "This was an intentional, deliberate act by both parties. One, to ram the back of our deputy's car, and the other to actually strike our deputy with the Jeep. We want this guy."
The two suspects fled in the Jeep, which was later spotted in Denver and rammed a Denver police car before driving into a Lakewood neighborhood.
Lakewood Neighborhood Watch member Billy Burnett and his daughter heard a loud bang outside when the suspects drove into their neighborhood and caused a lot of damage after coming to a dead end, but they kept driving.
The suspects crashed through a fence, swiped a tree and knocked down other trees. They then slammed into a backyard pool cement wall. When they couldn't drive any farther, the suspects got out and ran.
"They took this fence and pushed it all the way into the pool," Billy Burnett said.
"We heard a big explosion and then someone screaming," Amber Burnett said.
The juvenile suspect who had been driving the Volkswagen was later arrested by Lakewood police. He's been charged with aggravated motor vehicle theft and first-degree assault.
Police are still trying to find the other suspect who was driving the Jeep. No description of the suspect has been released. Authorities say the juvenile in custody has been unwilling to give up the identity of his partner in crime.
Additional Information From The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
Anyone with information regarding these crimes is asked to call the Sheriff's Office tip line at 303-271-5612 or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867).
CBS4's Melissa Garcia contributed to this report. Melissa Garcia has been reporting for CBS4 News since March 2014. Find her bio here, follow her on Twitter @MelissaGarciaTV, or send your story idea to mkgarcia@cbs.com.
