A man hiding in the trunk of a car stopped by police was tased and bitten by a police dog after he failed to comply with orders to show his hands, police said.
The incident happened at about 11:50 p.m. Monday at a traffic stop at 14th St. SE and South Lincoln Avenue in Loveland, according to a Larimer County Sheriff’s Office media release.
As the vehicle stopped, a deputy noted it was “swaying from side to side” and that there were outstanding warrants associated with the vehicle.
The female driver was identified as Savanna Lynn Grose, 25, of Longmont. Deputies checked the car and found no one else inside, “but did locate a male hiding in the trunk,” according to the release.
The man refused to show his hands and deputies used a Taser in an attempt to make him comply, the sheriff’s office said.
As deputies pulled the man from the trunk he continued to resist, the release said, and he continued to conceal one hand “despite numerous commands to show his hands and stop resisting.”
A police dog was used and the suspect was “taken into custody after being bitten,” the sheriff’s office said.
The suspect is identified as Christopher John Tafoya, Jr., 31, of Loveland.
Illegal drugs were found inside the vehicle, the release said.
Tafoya was taken to a local hospital, treated for injuries, and released from hospital care.
THe was then arrested and taken to the Larimer County jail and held on suspicion of:
• Unlawful possession controlled substance
• Possession drug paraphernalia
• Obstructing a peace officer
• Resisting arrest
Tafoya was wanted by Loveland police on failure to appear for driving under restraint, and failure to comply in a harassment case.
He is also wanted by the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant for violation of a protection order.
Tafoya’s Larimer County bond was set at $3,500.
Grose was arrested on suspicion of:
• Obstructing a peace officer
• Unlawful possession of a controlled substance
• Possession of drug paraphernalia
• Accessory to a crime
Her bond was set a $1,250.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822, knicholson@denverpost.com or @kierannicholson
