This morning at approximately 0655 hours the Grand County Sheriff’s Dispatch Center informed Grand County Sheriff’s Deputies of a stolen Alpine Lumber box style truck from Steamboat Springs. A Colorado Department of Transportation snowplow operator had stated the box style truck was heading eastbound on U.S. Highway 40 at approximately the 146 mile maker.
Sheriff Brett Schroetlin organized several deputies and coordinated with the Colorado State Patrol, Kremmling Police Department, and Granby Police Department, in formulating an action plan to properly and safely respond and intercept the stolen box style truck. Sheriff Schroetlin and Chief James Kraker established intercept points along U.S. Highway 40 and also sent Deputies up Colorado Highway 125 toward Highway 14 to have a complete highway perimeter established for a safe resolve to this incident.
Further information was received by the Colorado State Patrol the stolen box style truck was stopped along Colorado State Highway 14 with two individuals unloading items from the truck into a dark colored Subaru. CDOT employees further observed the dark colored Subaru leaving the area heading westbound on Colorado Highway 14 toward Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The two individuals abandoned the stolen box style truck on Highway 14 and now only occupying the dark colored Subaru.
Grand County Deputies, Routt County Deputies, and the Colorado State Patrol were able to be connected and communicate effectively through the Colorado Digital Trunked 800 Radio System to coordinate the law enforcement response from Routt County and Grand County to intercept the dark colored Subaru along U.S. Highway 40.
At approximately 0808 hours Lieutenant Dan Mayer observed the dark colored Subaru on U.S. Highway 40 traveling eastbound at approximately the 169 mile marker. Lieutenant Mayer’s keen sense of observation made the difference in locating the suspect vehicle which was traveling in the opposite direction than what had been reported. Lieutenant Mayer along with additional Grand County Sheriff’s Deputies attempted to stop the suspect vehicle and that is when the pursuit began as the suspect vehicle failed to stop and began to flee at a high rate of speed.
Sheriff Schroetlin and Kremmling Police Chief Jamie Lucas setup stop sticks at U.S. Highway 40 and Colorado Highway 134 to attempt and deflate the tires on the suspect vehicle to end the pursuit. The stop sticks were partially effective as the pursuit continued through the Town of Kremmling with law enforcement following close behind the suspect vehicle.
Grand County Sheriff’s Deputies setup another stop stick intercept point along U.S. Highway 40 at the 193 mile marker and effectively deflated two additional tires causing the suspect vehicle to slow. It was at this time the driver of the suspect vehicle bailed out the car and fled on foot toward the Colorado River. The passenger of the suspect vehicle moved into the driver’s seat and attempted to flee in the dark colored Subaru. Grand County Sheriff’s Deputies quickly were able to box-in the distressed suspect vehicle, stop the vehicle at mile marker 192, and safely take one of the male suspects into custody at 0831 hours.
The male suspect who fled on foot toward the Colorado River was observed by Grand County Sheriff’s Deputies crossing the river and continuing on foot. The deputies giving chase on foot then observed the male suspect passing through a fence opening and disappearing into the tall grass. The deputies along with Chief Kraker and a Grand County Sheriff’s K-9 continued tracking the suspect along another portion of the riverbank. Grand County Sheriff’s Deputies deployed a UAS to assist in the search for the suspect. The male suspect was located in the river hiding under the riverbank covered by high grass with the assistance of the GCSO UAS and the K-9. Deputies were able to deploy the K-9 and safely take the male suspect into custody at 0857 hours.
Both suspects were transported to the Grand County Sheriff’s Office Jail for further investigation. The dark colored Subaru has been impounded and contained what appears to be a large amount of evidence and stolen property.
The case continues to be investigated by the Steamboat Police Department. The Grand County Sheriff’s Office along with the Colorado State Patrol are assisting with the investigation.
Sheriff Schroetlin stated “It is these types of incidents that our deputies train to be ready to respond to and why we train together with all law enforcement in our county, the region, and with our state law enforcement agencies”. Sheriff Schroetlin continued by stating the cooperation of eight law enforcement agencies, CDOT, and Grand County EMS allowed for this to incident to be resolved in a timely and safe manner. I am very proud of our deputies and their dedication as well as the cooperation among all of the Grand County Law Enforcement Agencies who serve the citizens of Grand County.”
