On Nov. 17th at approximately 7:57PM the Chaffee County Communications Center received a 911 call from a Chaffee County home owner residing at a residence north of Poncha Springs on Hwy 285.
The caller reported that she arrived on her property to find a male and female party actively burglarizing her home. As the reporting party approached in her vehicle the male and female party fled in a 2012 Ford Expedition with no license plates as the reporting party followed. The male driver of the Expedition stopped at a gate in the driveway, brandished a handgun, re-entered the car and sped away.
Deputies from the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area and observed the suspect vehicle just north of Poncha Springs, southbound, and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The driver of the Expedition refused to stop and a pursuit ensued for several miles until the driver crashed the vehicle into a wooded area north of the CR 250 and CR 140 intersection. A lengthy standoff then ensued with the driver of the vehicle and the female passenger who refused to exit the car. During the standoff the driver was once again brandishing a weapon as law enforcement negotiated with the suspect to drop the weapon. Eventually both parties were taken into custody without incident.
Both parties were transported to the Chaffee County Detention Facility.
Arrested was Isaiah Garcia, age 21 of Moffat, CO and Taylor Mossman, age 21 of Homer, CO.
Garcia is being held in the Chaffee County Jail ($10,000.00 cash only bond) for the charges of First Degree Burglary (class 3 Felony), Menacing (class 3 Felony), Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft (class 5 Felony), Vehicular Eluding (class 5 Felony), Possession of a Weapon by a Previous Offender (class 6 Felony), Criminal Mischief (class 6 Felony), Theft (class 3 Misdemeanor), Violation of a Protection Order (class 2 Misdemeanor), Reckless Endangerment (class 3 Misdemeanor), Resisting Arrest (class 2 Misdemeanor), Reckless Driving (class 3 Misdemeanor), Careless Driving (Misdemeanor Traffic Offense), Speeding 20MPH over the posted Speed Limit and Driving While Driver’s License is Under Suspension. Garcia also had a no bond Fugitive of Justice warrant out of Rio Grande County and a $200 cash bond Fugitive of Justice warrant out of Saguache County for his arrest.
Mossman is being held in the Chaffee County Jail on a $5,000.00 cash only bond for the charges of Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Burglary (class 4 Felony), First Degree Criminal Trespass (class 5 Felony), Conspiracy to Commit Theft (class 3 Misdemeanor) and Resisting Arrest (class 2 Misdemeanor).
Earlier this same day the Saguache County Sheriff’s Office pursued the same vehicle from Saguache County into Chaffee County over Poncha Pass, however, the pursuit was terminated by Saguache County due to the high risk of injury to the public. The Expedition had earlier been reported stolen by the Moffat, CO school district.
Other agencies assisting were the Salida Police Department, Chaffee County EMS and Chaffee Fire.