A team of snow plow drivers in Colorado served their community in a unique way earlier this year by stopping a suspected car thief in the path of a failed police attempt.
On January 2, around 11:30 p.m., a police officer spotted a black Hyundai Accent with a broken taillight traveling eastbound on Interstate 70 in Idaho Springs, about 30 minutes from Denver. did. When officers ran the plate over, they learned the vehicle had been reported stolen and had been “involved in a robbery and pre-emption on New Year's Eve,” according to a statement from the Idaho Springs Police Department.
board member tried to pull the driver overbut the driver did not cooperate. Officers and deputies from several agencies then sprung into action, attempting to stop the Accent using stop sticks and even “tactical rolling obstacles,” but the driver still dismissed the effort as “aggressive.” He evaded the vehicle and even collided with a deputy patrol vehicle while driving. I continued driving on the highway.
Unbeknownst to law enforcement, a Colorado Department of Transportation snow plow driver was there to assist. Although there wasn't a speck of snow falling, three large snow plows that were driving in front of the suspect took over all eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 and slowly came to a halt once the traffic cleared. At first, they blocked the suspect's path.
“We're on barricades with three plows. They shut down I-70,” one trooper said over the radio.
The Idaho Springs Police Department shared video of the incident on Facebook.
The driver of the Accent, later identified as 27-year-old Brendan Fuchs of Denver, was the only passenger in the vehicle, but he quickly turned himself in. After being taken into police custody, Fuchs reportedly admitted to being under the influence of drugs and alcohol and attempting to rob a local business.
During a search of Accent, officers found drug paraphernalia and “tools commonly used in robberies,” a police statement said. It was also determined that Fuchs had warrants for trespassing and shoplifting.
In addition to these warrants, Fuchs was also arrested on several new charges including vehicular fleeing, aggravated motor vehicle theft, possession of burglary tools, reckless driving, and driving under the influence.
Fortunately, no one was injured in this incident.
“They were all immediately willing to cooperate. … We didn't want to hurt or kill anyone.”
CDOT plow crew supervisor Michael Zamora said moments like that are all part of the job.
“We're more involved in the field than just plowing snow,” Zamora said. “We respond to emergencies, accidents, calls for help, broken drivers. Nine times out of 10, I We will be the first to go to the scene.” 9 news.
Zamora said he radioed his subordinates about the problem and his fellow drivers didn't hesitate to help.
“They all agreed to work together right away. They wanted to get this thing over safely because they had a lot of public servants traveling and public servants were out on the scene. We didn't want anyone to get hurt or killed.''
Crew member Henry Hinkle added that he and his colleagues “just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”
“I didn't have time to think about it. So I just waited for it to happen, and then I just stopped the traffic, and when the moving public disappeared behind me, I shut the car up. And all was well.” Hinkle Mr. explained.
H/T: Glendale FOP 12
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