A Colorado man riding a motorcycle refused to stop for deputies, leading to a pursuit throughout the town and onto surrounding county roads. The chase eventually led to the suspect hiding in a field, where he was finally caught.
The Bent County Sheriff’s Office said the pursuit began on Oct. 12 around 8:57 p.m., when a deputy attempted to make contact with a motorcycle near County Road 10 and County Road FF.5.
The sheriff’s office identified the driver as Herbert Romero, and he allegedly refused to yield, fleeing from deputies. The pursuit traveled through the city limits of Las Animas before heading back into the county.
Romero eventually drove the motorcycle through a field near County Road 5.5 and Highway 50, prompting law enforcement to begin a search for him.
Finally Caught
Footage obtained by SECO News shows the pursuit as Romero runs a red light with patrol vehicles following close by.
The sheriff’s office said the search involved assistance from the La Junta Police Department and the Bent County Sheriff’s Posse. They eventually tracked down Romero in the field and took him into custody without further incident.
It wasn’t specified how long the pursuit lasted or if anyone was injured during the incident in the news release.
The Charges
Romero is being held on five charges stemming from the incident, according to the Bent County Sheriff’s Office. They include eluding or attempting to elude a police officer, reckless driving, speeding, and failure to obey traffic control devices.
He was also charged with driving under restraint, which covers operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked license under Colorado law
The release did not provide details about Romero’s driving history, the motorcycle’s speed, or the specific traffic control devices he allegedly failed to obey. An attempt to locate his booking information was also unsuccessful, so any information regarding Romero’s bond, booking time, or court dates could not be confirmed.
The charges connected with the pursuit carry different classifications under Colorado law. Eluding a police officer and reckless driving are both Class 2 misdemeanor traffic offenses. Failure to obey control devices is a Class A traffic infraction, while the classification for speeding depends on how far the driver went past the posted speed limit.
Driving under restraint can also be classified differently depending on the reason for the driver’s license being suspended or revoked.
As always, Romero is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.