A suspected robber wanted in Kansas was arrested after he fired a shot at a deputy and led officers on a chase reaching speeds of 100 mph.
Jacob Anthony Avila, 22, was arrested for investigation of attempted murder of a police officer and is being held in the Jefferson County Jail, according to Jim Shires, spokesman for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s office.
A deputy spotted a pickup in a construction area at 11:45 p.m. near Evergreen Parkway and I-70 and when he did a check he discovered that the pickup had been stolen in an armed robbery in Topeka, Kan., Shires said.
A Kansas law enforcement bulletin indicated the suspect was armed. Deputies were preparing to make an arrest when a shot was fired from the cab of the pickup.
The driver then sped onto I-70, reaching speeds of 100 mph as he headed west, Shires said.
The suspect drove over a spike strip near Idaho Springs and exited the highway after his tires deflated, Shires said.
A deputy drove beside the suspect’s pickup and intentionally struck the vehicle causing it to spin. Another deputy rammed his patrol car head-on into the pickup to prevent the suspect from escaping, Shires said.
Deputies arrested Avila and found a hand gun, he said.
The suspect and deputy involved in the head-on collision were taken to St. Anthony’s Central Hospital. The deputy suffered a lower back injury and the suspect was treated for minor cuts and scrapes.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
