PUEBLO – According to Colorado State Patrol, a suspect stole a state trooper’s squad car during a traffic stop Sunday on I-25 in Pueblo.
The incident began around 11 a.m. Sunday morning when a trooper responded to a call of a wrong way driver on I-25.
According to State Patrol Cpl. Ivan Alvarado, the trooper made contact with the suspect on I-25 and somehow the suspect was able to get in the trooper’s squad car and take off. The trooper was able to get his hand inside the vehicle and was dragged an unknown distance. State Patrol said the trooper suffered minor injuries that were non-life threatening.
The suspect fled the scene heading south on I-25 with other State Patrol units in pursuit. The chase reached speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour and covered 36 miles.
State Patrol said that as the chase neared mile marker 69, a Huerfano County deputy used a tire deflation device to attempt to stop the suspect. The suspect attempted to avoid the device and in doing so lost control and rolled the vehicle. The suspect was ejected and attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended without incident moments later
According to State Patrol, the Pueblo Police Department, the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, and the Huerfano County Sheriff’s Office assisted in apprehending the suspect.
State Patrol has identified the suspect as 31-year-old Richard Twomey of Livermore, California. He suffered minor injuries in the crash and was treated at a local hospital before he was booked into the Pueblo County Jail on numerous felony and misdemeanor charges.
(The Associated Press contributed to this article.)
