A reverse 911 call was issued early Friday morning asking residents to be on the lookout for a fleeing suspect. Chaffee County Deputies and Salida Police Officers have now apprehended the individual.

On Thursday, May 27th, at approximately 11:30 pm, Chaffee County Deputies stopped a suspicious vehicle on Highway 50 in the Poncha Springs area.

Deputies contacted a male who provided identification of a male from the Denver Metro area. During the stop deputies were unable to confirm ownership of the vehicle and the driver was unable to provide any answers to deputies. Deputies asked the party to exit the vehicle and he attempted to drive away, nearly dragging deputies in the suspect vehicle.

A pursuit ensued and headed eastbound into Salida where Salida Police Officers became involved in the pursuit as well. At County Road 107 and East Hwy 50 the suspect rammed a Salida Police car several times before continuing SB on County Road 107. Deputies and Salida Police Officers continued to pursue the suspect into the Methodist Mountain subdivision where law enforcement once again attempted to contact the suspect. The suspect once again attempted to flee as the officers approached the vehicle.

Fearing for the safety of the numerous homeowners in the area, law enforcement personnel fired shots at the vehicle’s tires disabling the vehicle. The suspect continued down an embankment and wrecked into multiple trees. When Law Enforcement approached the vehicle they found that the suspect had fled on foot.

A large-scale search for the suspect began utilizing heat seeking drones and multiple law enforcement officers. An Everbridge emergency notification was sent to nearby residents initially and later to the entire town of Salida notifying the public of the situation and of the suspect who had fled.

At approximately 9:30 am the Chaffee County Communications Center received a 911 call of a suspicious male who had ran up on a passing motorist in the Paradise Acres area. Fearing for their safety the motorist fled and law enforcement was notified. Members of the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office and the Salida Police Department responded and contacted the suspect. He was taken into custody without incident and was transported to the Chaffee County Detention Facility.

At the detention facility the suspect was fingerprinted, and it was discovered that the identification the suspect gave deputies initially was in fact not him. At this time no positive identification is available due to the multiple aliases the suspect has used and his unwillingness to provide further information.

The unidentified suspect faces the following charges:

1. Second Degree Assault, Criminal Attempt, Class 5 Felony
2. Eluding, Class 5 Felony
3. Driving After Restraint, Class 1 Misdemeanor
4. Resisting Arrest, Class 2 Misdemeanor

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Dan R

Danny “Dan R” Ridenour has been in radio and television broadcasting for over 40 years, starting as a senior in high school in Rogers, Arkansas. His radio career has had stops in Nashville, Memphis, Oklahoma, and eventually, Colorado. Dan enjoys being involved in the community, having been a member of the Upper Arkansas Service Club and is currently on the board of directors for the Salida Community Center and is a member of the Chaffee County Fair Committee. He and his wife Carrie spend their days doing everything the mountains have to offer: hiking, camping, fishing and skiing. They've raised 3 children and have 2 grandchildren.

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