On November 7th, 2025, at about 11:40PM Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jesse Camp attempted to make a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling northbound on Highway 291 north of Salida, CO for erratic driving behavior and some minor equipment violations. The vehicle refused to stop and led Deputy Camp on a short pursuit to a residence on Happy Jack Lane in Chaffee County.
Once the vehicle came to a stop at the residence the lone occupant and driver of the vehicle tried to run away from Deputy Camp and a Salida Police Officer who arrived to assist. The officers were eventually able to detain the driver before he was able to enter the residence. During the attempted arrest of the subject, he allegedly struck officers and resisted arrest. Officers on scene only received minor injuries.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Sanford Gardner age 37 from Salida, CO. Gardner was transported to the Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center where he was treated and released for minor injuries. Gardner was then transported to the Chaffee County Detention Facility where he was held on a $5,000.00 bond for the charges of:
Felony Eluding a class 5 Felony, Second Degree Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer a class 4 Felony, Resisting Arrest a class 2 Misdemeanor, Drove a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol/ Drugs or Both a class 1 Traffic Misdemeanor, Reckless Driving a class 2 Traffic Misdemeanor, Failure to Drive in a Single Lane a class A Traffic Infraction and Operating a Motor Vehicle with Defective Tail Lamps a class B Traffic Infraction.
Gardner is considered innocent unless/until proven guilty in a court of law.
-Sheriff Andy Rohrich
