Jefferson County, CO. – At 6:40 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, JCSO deputies responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the 5000 block of West Brittany Place. The person inside the vehicle was slumped over the steering wheel of a tan Lincoln Navigator. Deputies surrounded the vehicle with three patrol cars, exited their vehicles, and attempted to make contact with the person inside. The man behind the wheel woke up and immediately attempted to drive away, ramming all three patrol cars in the process. The suspect drove straight toward a deputy, who fired shots at the vehicle, but the suspect was able to flee the area.
A few hours later, the suspect vehicle was spotted in the 6000 block of West Prentice Avenue in Denver. Responding deputies could not see into the car, so they deployed a single less-lethal round to clear the window. After doing so, they were able to see the vehicle was abandoned. An alert was sent out to the neighborhood to inform residents and ask that anyone call if they spotted the suspect. A local elementary school was temporarily put on Lockout status. Doorbell security footage from a home near the abandoned car showed a heavy-set white or Hispanic male with facial hair, dark clothing, walking away from the area pulling a blue rolling suitcase (carry-on size).
At this time, the JCSO is actively looking for the suspect. If you have any information, call 911.
The First Judicial District Law Enforcement Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) leads the investigation regarding the officer involved shooting.