CASTLE ROCK, Colo.—An El Paso County sheriff’s detective has been ordered to stand trial after a car chase and an armed confrontation with deputies from neighboring Douglas County.
Jerald Day faces charges of menacing and vehicular eluding. Authorities say he led Douglas County deputies on a chase and then waved a handgun toward them in a confrontation near Franktown, about 20 miles south of Denver, on Feb. 28.
At a preliminary hearing Thursday, Douglas County Judge Susanna Meissner-Cutler ruled the evidence was sufficient to send the case to trial. She ordered Day to undergo a mental health evaluation, barred him drinking alcohol and reduced his bail to $150,000 from $300,000.
Day has been suspended with pay. His attorney, Oliver Johnson, declined to comment Friday.
Douglas County prosecutors said Day’s partner, El Paso County sheriff’s detective Cliff Porter, alerted authorities that Day had discussed forcing police officers to kill him.
Prosecutors said Porter told them he spent hours on the phone with Day, “trying to talk him out of his destructive path.”
Douglas County Deputy Chris O’Neal testified Thursday he had his rifle aimed at Day during the confrontation and twice prepared to fire as Day raised a gun toward the other officers.
The standoff ended when a police dog grabbed Day’s arm.
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Information from: The Gazette,
