Police are asking the public’s help in finding a 24-year-old man who is accused of stealing a pickup truck, which hit a sheriff’s deputy after he stopped it.
The Jefferson County Regional Auto Theft Task Force is looking for Michael Richard Smith, of Wheat Ridge, the task force said in a media release.
Smith is suspected of stealing a Ford F250 pickup truck, which was driven by a woman who attempted to flee a stop and wound up dragging, and injuring, Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputy Art Peterson.
Peterson, 52, fired his gun as he was being dragged, hitting the driver.
The mid-day incident happened in August on South Santa Fe Drive in Englewood. It tied up traffic, shutting down two major intersections, for three hours. Peterson, who was dragged about 100-feet, and the unidentified driver were rushed to nearby hospitals.
The unidentified driver remains in an area hospital and has not yet been arrested in the case, police said. Peterson is recovering from his injuries.
Della Graf, 34, a passenger in the truck the day of the incident was arrested on suspicion of theft by receiving.
Investigators believe Smith was involved in a “chop shop” at a home he rented at 4600 Miller St., in Wheat Ridge.
Police said 12 stolen vehicles, cars and motorcycles, were found at the Wheat Ridge home.
Smith is suspected of having “direct involvement in the theft” of the truck that injured Peterson, police said.
On October 28 arrest warrants were issued for Smith and four suspected accomplices in the chop shop.
Joleen Palmer, 26, Justin Wilson, 24, and Nicole Woods, 24, have been arrested in the case, the task force said. An additional suspect, Jeremy Speer, 33, was already in the custody at the Jefferson County Jail on unrelated charges.
Smith, who faces up to 18 possible felony charges, including theft by receiving and aggravated motor vehicle theft, remains at-large, police said.
Smith is described as 5-feet 10-inches tall, 160 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. He has an eagle tattoo on his neck and tattoo “sleeves” on both arms. He has a mole on his nose.
Anyone with information on Smith’s whereabouts is asked to call task force det. Charles Hemming at 303 987-4907.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
