On Friday, February 16th, at approximately 9:15 pm, Park County Deputy Nate Carrigan was dispatched to a call of a gas theft at the Shell gas station on Crow Hill north of Bailey, according to a Park County Sheriff's Office press release. The gas station clerk reported that a white Ford pickup truck had driven off without paying for fuel.

Carrigan attempted to intercept the pickup, which was reported traveling southbound on US Highway 285. At mile marker 215 north of Webster, Carrigan saw the pickup and attempted to pull the vehicle over. The truck, along with two other pickups, proceeded to flee. The second pickup was a black Dodge and the third was a white Dodge.

All three trucks turned onto Cline Drive, then to W Cline Drive at a high rate of speed, the news release states. The white Dodge lost control and spun around on the road, temporarily stuck. As Carrigan approached the vehicle, the driver freed the truck and attempted to run the deputy down, according to the Sheriff's Department. The deputy's vehicle was struck in the process.

Several other Park County units were immediately dispatched to the area. The white Dodge lost control again and slid into a ditch where it became stuck. Carrigan then reported that the driver fled on foot into the woods. A search of the area ensued with the assistance of the Jefferson County K-9 unit and the Platte Canyon Fire Department, but they were unable to locate the suspect. The pickup was impounded and searched.

Communications issued a BOLO for the other two vehicles, informing surrounding area law enforcement agencies. The black Dodge was recovered by the Westminster Police Department the next morning after it was used in an armed robbery on N Raleigh St. When a Westminster Police Officer attempted to make contact with the black Dodge, a pursuit ensued, according to the news release. The pickup crashed on Elizabeth in Denver, ending the pursuit. One suspect fled on foot and three other suspects in the vehicle were taken into custody. The remaining suspect was apprehended and taken into custody as well, after an officer reportedly fired at the fleeing man when a threat was perceived. Multiple firearms were found in the truck.

The white Ford pickup involved in the gas theft was recovered Saturday morning on North Fork Road and impounded as well. All three trucks were stolen - one from Brighton and two from North Fork Ranch south of Bailey, according to Sheriff Wegener. It was later discovered that several weapons and a supply of ammunition were also stolen from the ranch, Wegener said.

The suspects apprehended by Westminster Police are identified in the news release as 24-year-old David Powell, 18-year-old Steven Erick Mills, 21-year-old Vincent Real, and 25-year-old Kristina Garcia.

The Rocky Mountain News reports in its February 19, 2007 story, Officer shoots at fleeing suspect, that Powell is a "registered sex offender with a lengthy criminal history." Further details on the events in Westminster are covered in the Rocky's story.