A Weld County sheriff’s deputy has been cleared of criminal wrongdoing in a December shooting near Fort Lupton.
Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke determined Deputy Holcomb Nicholson was justified in shooting 54-year-old Michael Nash on Dec. 31 after a car chase, according to a news release from the district attorney’s office. Rourke did not not release any other details of the investigation, citing pending litigation as the reason.
Nash faces charges of felony menacing, felony vehicular eluding, driving under the influence, prohibited use of a weapon and harassment in connection with the incident, said Krista Henery, a spokeswoman for the district attorney.
The harassment charge stems from a fight Nash allegedly had with a woman on the same night, according to court documents.
The deputy was monitoring the roads for drunk drivers at 2:41 a.m. when he saw a car speed past him on Colorado Highway 52 and College Avenue in Fort Lupton. The driver, who later was identified as Nash, refused to stop and fled the deputy for nearly two miles.
The Weld County Sheriff’s Office reported that Nash was armed with a handgun when he was stopped, and the deputy shot him. The sheriff’s office did not provide a narrative of what happened between the stop and the shots that were fired. Court documents said Nash was in possession of a handgun while intoxicated.
Nash was taken to a hospital to be treated for injuries he suffered in the shooting.
