Video Shows Highly-Dangerous Chase, Objects Thrown At Police
MORGAN COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - CBS4 obtained video of a high-speed chase where stolen car parts were thrown at deputies last month.
On Oct. 24, two men in a stolen truck from Log Lane Village eluded Morgan County deputies on Interstate 76. The newly obtained dash-cam video captured the more than 40-mile-long chase that at times reached speeds close to 100 miles per hour.
"The passenger broke out the back window of the pickup," Sheriff Jim Crone explained as the video played. "Crawled into the topper and is now starting to throw objects out the back of the pickup towards the patrol cars that are following it."
Of the countless items tossed from the truck, some of which have not yet been recovered, were stolen truck parts, power tools and cans. Deputies narrowly missed some of the larger items, like a 67-pound floor jack, but others did hit their cars.
"During some of this, items went over some of the other cars in other lanes," Crone told CBS4.
Crone said it is not unusual for suspects to toss evidence as they are being chased by authorities. However, this case was out of the ordinary for Morgan County deputies.
"This is really one of the first chases we've ever had where people are deliberately tossing items at the patrol car behind them, trying to get them to go away," he said.
Despite passing dozens of other vehicles during the pursuit, no one was hurt and only the patrol cars were damaged.
After hitting stop-sticks deployed by other law enforcement, the stolen truck did come to a stop near Lochbuie. There, Crone said, the driver got out and attempted to carjack a woman on the side of the road as the passenger tried to run off. Both were quickly caught and are facing serious charges, including attempted murder.
"We've actually charged them with attempted murder on both of the officers that were directly involved with the case, but the district attorney also charged both on counts of attempted murder by extreme indifference because of the items that directly endangered other people on the highway."
Brandon McIntosh of Lone Tree and Luke Batts, who listed himself as a transient, were arrested by Morgan County deputies with the assistance of deputy marshals from the town of Hudson and Lochbuie police. They were traveling in a 2002 Dodge Dakota which had been reported stolen on Oct. 23 from Lakewood.
CBS4 learned the truck parts thrown at deputies were from another stolen truck belonging to a veteran's organization. The items in that truck had fallen soldier memorabilia, but it's not known if those items have been recovered.
Kelly Werthmann joined the CBS4 team in 2012 as the morning reporter, covering national stories like the Aurora Theater Shooting and devastating Colorado wildfires. She now anchors CBS4 Weekend Morning News and reports during the week. Connect with her on Facebook or Twitter @KellyCBS4.
