A Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper dramatically rolled his patrol vehicle early Friday morning in a high-risk maneuver that assisted in the arrest of a Colorado homicide suspect just outside Cheyenne, according to Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak.
Hats off to the trooper in this situation,” said Kozak. “He didn’t want to risk having a high-speed pursuit in the community as people headed to work.
Tense Morning Chase
At 5:20 a.m., deputies were notified of a BOLO (Be-On-the-Lookout) for a suspect fleeing Thornton, Colorado, following an alleged homicide. A short time later, the truck was spotted crossing into Wyoming.
Using a specialized grappler device that shoots a net to immobilize a vehicle’s wheels, the trooper attempted to safely stop the truck. However, the situation quickly escalated.
The idea was to actually get behind the vehicle, initiate the grappler, initiate the traffic stop—and that’s what they did,” said Kozak. “But things don’t always go as planned in police work.
The patrol car veered off the road and rolled. Thankfully, the trooper was unharmed, thanks to his seat belt.
Tactical Arrest & Unexpected Charge
Law enforcement officers issued verbal commands while the truck was stopped. Officers were unable to see the suspect due to excessively tinted windows, so they used a 40-millimeter projectile to shatter the windshield. The suspect was apprehended without injury.
Although no arrest warrant had been issued, deputies devised a workaround.
So we’ve taken the suspect to our jail — get this — on a window tint violation,” Kozak explained.
The Thornton Police Department is still investigating, so the suspect’s identity is unknown.
Wyoming law enforcement eliminated a potential threat before it endangered the public, demonstrating bravery, quick thinking, and tactical restraint.
As the homicide investigation continues, the suspect remains in custody — surprisingly, due to window tint laws.
