Berthoud Weekly Surveyor | Covering all the angles in the Garden Spot

Larimer County deputies involved in multiple shootings

By: Amber McIver-Traywick | The Surveyor | June 09, 2022 | Local News

Last Wednesday Larimer County Sheriff’s Office deputies were shot at while attempting to arrest a wanted felon in Fort Collins resulting in officers returning fire killing the suspect.

According to a statement released by LCSO, Colorado Parole requested assistance from LCSO to apprehend an adult male wanted for two felony warrants. At about 4:46 p.m., the LCSO Strategic Enforcement Unit (SEU) began surveillance at a residence in the 3900 block of Chinook Lane in Fort Collins. At about 8:12 p.m., a vehicle left the property with the suspect inside. SEU attempted a traffic stop and the vehicle fled. SEU and parole pursued the vehicle westbound into Fort Collins and terminated the pursuit after about five minutes.

Deputies returned to the home later that evening and located the vehicle they pursued. Soon after a woman left the residence in a vehicle with the suspect in the back seat. Deputies then conducted a high-risk traffic stop. The female obeyed commands to exit the vehicle and was moved to a safe location. The suspect remained in the vehicle and was seen holding a firearm.

Deputies attempted to communicate with the suspect giving commands for him to exit the vehicle, but the suspect did not comply. A shot was fired from inside the vehicle and one deputy fired into the vehicle. The suspect remained in the vehicle, so the Larimer County Regional All-Hazards/Crisis Response Team (AH/CR) was called to the scene. A drone was also deployed in an attempt to see inside the vehicle. AH/CR was able to remove the suspect from the vehicle. He was transported to a local hospital and pronounced deceased.

The Eighth Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team was activated, and the Loveland Police Department will be leading the investigation.

In the past two weeks, LCSO deputies have been involved in two fatal shootings. In addition to the most recent incident, a deputy fatally shot a person May 27. That incident began when deputies attempted a traffic stop where the suspect fled in their vehicle with the pursuit continuing into Weld County east of Berthoud. The shooting is being investigated by the 19th Judicial District’s CIRT.

Additionally, a sheriff’s deputy was also recently ruled justified in their actions by the Larimer County DA in the fatal shooting of an armed man at the Larimer County landfill in April.

In a statement posted on Facebook Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith said of the incidents “I have to be honest, the number of violent encounters deputies are experiencing is tremendously concerning” and continued by saying “While we issue news releases on these officer-involved shootings, nearly every day, I read about agencies across the county confronting violent, career criminals and all too often, they are armed and ready for conflict.”

 

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