06/21/2022
On 06/20/2022 at approximately 0830 pm, deputies responded to the 600 block of west 7th street on a report of a domestic dispute.
Upon arrival it was found that the male suspect had fled the scene. Deputies searched for the vehicle but we’re unable to immediately locate the vehicle. The male was suspected of committing acts of domestic violence against the victim, was intoxicated and had felony warrants for his arrest.
Corporal J. Jenkins located the vehicle near Main Street in Walsenburg. Cpl Jenkins attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the male refused to pull over and a pursuit was initiated with the male. The male after reaching speeds over 100 miles an hour, became disabled after crashing inside Lathrop State Park.
The male fled on foot into the heavily wooded areas in Lathrop. Thermal drones, parks personnel, and multiple deputies searched the area for hours to no avail.
While clearing from the area, Deputies were notified that the male returned to the residence and was armed with a handgun and intoxicated. The victim was unable to get away because she could not leave the kids in the house. The female was texting updates to a 3rd party to deputies.
Captain C. Lessar and Cpl C. Klipfel we’re able to locate the children through a window. Cpl Klipfel and Capt Lessar we’re able to get the window open and talk the children into exiting through the window and carried them away from the scene.
Once the kids were gone the female victim was able to leave and was taken to safety.
Numerous Deputies, Las Animas/Trinidad Tactical Medics, and Colorado State Parks Officers, arrived on scene and surrounded the house and began giving announcements.
The male suspect barricaded himself in the house and was seen walking around the house with a handgun. A search warrant and an arrest warrant were authored and approved for the residence and the male party.
Pueblo Police Department S.W.A.T. Was contacted for mutual aid and responded to the scene. Tactical Officers with the Pueblo Police Department introduced non-lethal gas into the residence in an attempt to force the male to surrender. After several hours of commands and numerous attempts to get the suspect to surrender peacefully, officers entered the residence and locate the male under the floorboards of the house in a crawl space.
The male was taken into custody without further incident.
The male was booked into the Huerfano County Jail for numerous Felony NO BOND warrants, including from this incident.
Thank you to the Pueblo Police Department for there help bringing this incident to a peaceful end.
Thank you to all agencies that assisted with this incident. Good job by everyone involved.
The information contained in this press release is based on preliminary information available at the time of its drafting. The Huerfano County Sheriff’s Department’s understanding of this incident may change as the investigation continues. The purpose of this press release is to provide timely information to the public. This is an ongoing investigation and this is all the information that will be released at this time.
