On March 21, 2025 Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Deputy Don Smith was performing routine traffic enforcement on Highway 285 near Nathrop, CO in Chaffee County when he observed a vehicle traveling southbound at a high rate of speed. Using his radar Deputy Smith was able to clock the vehicle at 125 miles per hour. Deputy Smith attempted to stop the vehicle but it eluded him passing vehicles on the shoulder of the highway on the right side in a reckless manner. Due to the high risk of danger to motorists on the highway Deputy Smith terminated the pursuit but radioed ahead to other officers asking them to watch for the vehicle. A few moments later the vehicle was located on Highway 50 in Salida, CO by a Salida Police Officer who was able to get the vehicle to pull over.
The driver of the vehicle, Michael Craig age 34 of Colorado Springs, CO was taken into custody by Deputy Smith and charged with Speeding 40 or More Miles Per Hour Over the Posted Speed Limit, Driving a Vehicle Under the Influence of Drugs, Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, Reckless Driving and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Michael Craig was booked into the Chaffee County Detention Facility where he was held on a $2,000.00 bond. Michael Craig is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
“This was a classic example of how you can’t outrun the radio. Deputy Smith did a great job of getting a dangerous driver off the streets while minimizing the risk to the innocent motorists traveling along the highway with their families. Our strong working relationship with the Salida Police Department was also on display as they assisted with this arrest” -Sheriff Andy Rohrich
