WESTMINSTER, Colo. — One Westminster police officer was injured following a pursuit in which a suspect allegedly stole a patrol car. Sometime after police located the car, there was an officer-involved shooting.
Sgt. Trevor Materasso with the Westminster Police Department said around 7:45 a.m. Friday, a business called them and reported that they had been broken into on Monday and believed the suspect was waiting at a nearby bus stop.
As officers arrived in the area, the suspect walked away. Officers spotted him around Wolff Run Park, by the intersection of W. 76th Avenue and Wolff Street, Materasso said.
They tried to contact a male suspect, but he ran from them on foot. Police used a Taser, but it was ineffective and the suspect was able to steal an officer's marked SUV, Materasso said. One officer was injured as the suspect stole the car, he said.
The suspect then used the SUV's lights and sirens as he drove, Materasso said. Police tracked the vehicle via its GPS to Heather Place before the vehicle hit a dead end at Elmwood Lane and Heather Place.
Police were able to stop the vehicle at the dead end. More than one officer was then involved in a shooting. Materasso said it is not clear if the suspect was arme. He said he doesn't believe the suspect was injured in the shooting.
We just talked to a neighbor who says she took cover after hearing gunshots outside of her home on Elmwood Ln. this morning. Police were firing shots at a suspect who stole a Westminster Police car (details in the comments). pic.twitter.com/fPaB9FLwEv
— Micah Smith (@MicahSmith_TV) December 27, 2019
The suspect, who has been identified as a 32-year-old with an extensive criminal history, was taken into custody, Materasso said. The injured officer was taken to a hospital with a minor injury and is expected to be OK, he said.
Westminster police said they are not searching for any other suspects.
This is a developing story and Denver7 is working to learn more about the situation.
