Denver police have in custody two men possibly connected to four attempted car thefts early Friday.
A little after 1 p.m., police initiated a chase with a silver Nissan Murano that officers believed to be connected to a series of attempted car thefts around 6 a.m., said Denver police spokeswoman Raquel Lopez.
The passenger jumped out of the car near East Fifth Avenue and Washington Street and took off on foot. The suspect was soon apprehended by police, Lopez said.
Police continued to chase the Murano until the driver was taken into custody at East Eighth Avenue and Logan Street, Lopez said.
During the chase, two Denver police cars were hit, Lopez said. No officers were injured.
Scott Howell, assistant manager of Brothers BBQ, watched the chase race through the restaurant parking lot.
“I saw plenty of officers with weapons drawn, so I knew the only person getting hurt was the suspect,” Howell said. “DPD did a good job getting the suspect quickly.”
Earlier in the afternoon, Denver police were searching for two vehicles wanted in connection with the attempted car thefts, during one of which a suspect fired a gun.
Investigators said the Murano, with Colorado license plate 940-JFQ, and a white 2008 Buick Enclave, with temporary tag 323267N, were possibly connected to the four cases.
A shooting happened about 6:30 a.m. near South Utica Street and West Alameda Avenue when a suspect tried to steal a car that was left running to warm up near a home, said Mary McIver, Denver police spokeswoman.
The homeowner had started the car and went back inside the house. When the person returned to the vehicle, there was someone inside, so the person ran back to the house. A second person came running out of the house to confront the thief. That’s when at least one shot was fired, McIver said.
The suspects then drove off.
There were no reported injuries outside the house.
Police said they were still investigating the situation as of Friday afternoon.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206, kmitchell@denverpost.com or @kirkmitchell or
Staff writer Jesse Paul contributed to this report.
