On Sunday, 03-30-25, at approximately 5:00PM the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office Communication Center received a teletype assistance request from the Saguache County Sheriff’s Office. The request, aired to all local Chaffee County law enforcement, asked that we look for and try to apprehend Paul Davis age 48 of Moffat, CO. The teletype provided a description of a vehicle Davis was driving, that he was likely intoxicated and that he was wanted on a felony domestic violence no bond warrant out of Saguache County.
A short time later a Salida Police Department Officer, utilizing a department owned stationary license plate reader, located Davis in his vehicle at Wal-Mart in Salida, CO. A traffic stop was attempted but Davis refused to stop and attempted to elude Salida Officers as he sped away in a reckless manner and at a very high rate of speed west bound on Highway 50 towards Poncha Springs, CO. Entering Poncha Springs Davis was exceeding 100 miles per hour in the posted 35 mile per hour zone and struck a speed sign, delineator post and a fire hydrant as he attempted to turn southbound on Highway 285 up Poncha Pass. Because of the risk to the public, the Salida Police Department terminated the pursuit.
At the time the pursuit was terminated a Saguache County Sheriff’s Office Deputy arrived in the area with the Salida Officers and Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office Deputies. The Saguache County Deputy continued south up Poncha Pass to return to his jurisdiction. A short time later the Saguache County Deputy advised that he located the vehicle disabled on the side of the road and Davis had fled the scene on foot.
Chaffee County Deputies and Salida Police Officers responded to the scene of the disabled vehicle on Poncha Pass and after a short search Davis was found and taken into custody. Davis’s vehicle sustained significant damage while he was attempting to elude officers.
Davis is currently being held in the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office Detention facility for the no bond felony domestic violence warrant out of Saguache County. Davis is also being held on a $500.00 bond for the Salida Police Department charge of Felony Vehicular Eluding and $1,000.00 bond for the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office Charges of DUI, Open Alcoholic Container in a Motor Vehicle, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Failure to Report and Accident, Reckless Driving, Speeding 40 Miles Per Hour or More Over the Posted Speed Limit, and Resisting Arrest
(all misdemeanors and/or traffic infractions). Davis is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
“I am proud of all officers involved. Their investigation abilities, tactics and fast decision making ultimately led to getting a dangerous driver and felony level wanted party off the road without loss of life or injury to the suspect, officers and/ or public. This event involved multiple officers from multiple jurisdictions and demonstrated how the cross training we do with other agencies has paid off.” -Sheriff Andy Rohrich
