A Longmont officer on Monday shot at a man who police say was trying to flee in a stolen vehicle.
The 30-year-old man, who was not hurt, was arrested after a pursuit. Police identified him as a parole escapee, but have not released his name.
The shooting happened as police were investigating the first of three calls reporting a man entering garages and attempting to enter vehicles in the 800 block of Gay Street, the 900 block of Bross Street and near 10th Avenue and Warren Court, according to a news release posted to the Longmont Fire, Police and Community Health and Resilience Facebook page. The first of those calls was received at 11:31 a.m. Monday, according to police.
While in the area, three officers were alerted by a Bross Street resident that a man was entering her garage, according to the release. As they walked to the garage at the rear of the property, officers found the man in the process of stealing a black Chevrolet Suburban, police stated. The man then backed the SUV down the driveway “placing the officers in immediate danger and forcing them to flee for cover,” according to the release.
An officer fired a round at the driver and officers pursued the stolen vehicle to the 1200 block of Spruce Avenue, where the man was arrested.
No officers were hurt in the incident.
The officer who fired his weapon was placed on administrative leave pending an external investigation by the Boulder County Investigations Team for the 20th Judicial District, according to the release. The multi-agency team investigates incidents in which law enforcement uses physical or deadly force in the course of official duties. The Longmont Police Department will not participate in the investigation, according to the release.
Anyone who witnessed this incident and has not spoken with police is asked to call Longmont Police Department Detective Michael Marquardt at 303-651-8516.
The shooting is the second this year in which Longmont officers were involved.
The Boulder County District Attorney’s Office on Thursday announced no criminal charges will be filed against two Longmont police officers who shot a man following a confrontation at an apartment complex last month.
Officers Nathan Miller and Brian Macchione were legally justified in “their use of reasonable and appropriate physical force” when they fired on Antonio D. Armstrong, the DA’s office stated in a news release.
Police shot Armstrong after being called to the Stonehedge Place apartments at 600 Martin St. early the morning of July 10 after he allegedly pointed a gun at officers who were responding to a report of harassment. The gun was actually a BB gun but looked identical to a handgun, according to police.
Armstrong, 26, was arrested on July 23 and faces four counts of felony menacing and one count of felony first-degree criminal trespass, as well as one charge each of harassment and domestic violence, both misdemeanors. He is set for a status conference on Aug.17, according to the DA’s office.
