A Broomfield police officer jumped to the pavement while firing two shots at a car occupied by two burglary suspects early this morning, authorities say.
The police officer’s bullet struck the black Suzuki Forenza near 14300 Waterside Lane at 3:24 a.m. but neither of the two men inside were hit, according to Sgt. Mark Goodell, Broomfield police spokesman.
Police arrested the two suspects after the vehicle rammed a patrol car, Goodell said in a news release. They were taken to a local hospital for treatment, he said.
They were identified Wednesday evening as Hiram Arzate, 19, of Denver and Daniel Soto, , 22, of Commerce City.
They face numerous charges including attempted murder, trespassing, and obstructing a police officer.
Police also arrested two other suspects, whom authorities believe had broken into numerous cars in a neighborhood of townhomes, Goodell said.
They were both 17-year-olds from Denver.
The officer involved in the shooting was not struck by the vehicle but was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries, he said.
Just as four police officers arrived on Waterside Lane on a trespassing call, two of the four suspects jumped in a vehicle and attempted to flee, speeding towards an officer who had gotten out of his patrol car, Goodell said.
The suspects sped towards the officer, who fired his gun in self protection, he said.
“He feared for his safety,” Goodell said.
After a bullet struck the vehicle, the suspects turned a corner and smashed into the patrol car, he said.
The two other people were arrested in the same neighborhood. Police believe they, too, were involved in the burglaries. Their names have not been released. Two of the four suspects arrested in the incident were juveniles, Goodell said.
The case remains under investigation. It has not been determined how many vehicles were broken into, he said.
Police are searching the Suzuki for items that may have been stolen from vehicles, Goodell said.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
