Two deputies with the Boulder County Sheriff’s office and one officer with the University of Colorado who fired their weapons at a suspect in a three-jurisdiction crime spree were justified in their actions, the Boulder County District Attorney said Monday.
Commander Josh Bonafede, Deputy Jeff Black, and Officer Jon Allendorf of the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office and the University of Colorado Boulder Police Department, respectively, shot at Trenton Joshua Dunham during the May 12 chase.
Dunham was driving a stolen truck and pointed a gun at officers during the pursuit that led to the Table Mesa on-ramp of U.S. 36, according to an arrest affidavit. Police used vehicle maneuvers to stop Dunham’s vehicle.
“Based on Colorado law, the physical force that Commander Bonafede, Deputy Black and Officer Allendorf used in response to Mr. Dunham was both reasonable and appropriate,” Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty said in Monday’s news release. None of the shots fired by law enforcement hit Dunham, Dougherty said.
“Under the circumstances, it was entirely reasonable for Commander Bonafede, Deputy Black, and Officer Allendorf to believe that Mr. Dunham was armed with a firearm, driving a stolen vehicle, and presented an imminent threat of deadly harm to themselves, fellow officers and civilians,” the news release states.
The Critical Incident Team for the 20th Judicial District — also known as the Boulder County Investigation Team, or BCIT — investigated the case, Dougherty said. Following the incident with Dunham, the BCIT was quickly notified and BCIT responded and did a “thorough investigation,” Dougherty said.
The two deputies were placed on non-enforcement duties while Allendorf was placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation.
Dunham, 25, faces 16 counts including attempted murder and assault related to the May 12 chase.
The incident began when Dunham stole a Glock 43 handgun from his father’s vehicle in Greeley, shot his father’s home and vehicle several times and proceeded to steal an unlocked green Honda CRV, according to the news release.
In Broomfield, Duham used the stolen Honda CRV to strike a victim’s vehicle from behind on U.S. 36. He attempted several multiple carjackings at gunpoint on U.S. 36 and several witnesses reported seeing Dunham in possession of a firearm. Ultimately, he fled the scene in a stolen white F150 truck, the news release states.
Dunham drove the truck “rapidly and erratically” onto the pedestrian section of the Pearl Street Mall, according to the news release. Dunham fled from law enforcement at a high rate of speed after officers attempted to stop him around 15th Street and Pearl Street. Then, officers successfully deployed stop sticks at Broadway and Baseline Road, the news release states. Dunham failed to stop, even after the stolen truck’s tires had been flattened.
As the suspect’s vehicle approached Table Mesa Drive and South 42nd Street, Dunham pointed his gun first at Officer Collin Keith, then at Deputy Black. Officer Keith aired over the radio that the suspect was armed and had pointed the weapon at him, the news release states. Additional members of law enforcement saw the handgun and observed Dunham point the gun in their direction.
In voluntary interviews, Deputy Black, Commander Bonafide and Officer Allendorf explained that they fired their weapons to protect themselves and others in the area, the news release states.
As the suspect’s vehicle approached the ramp to U.S. 36, Dunham drove on the sidewalk near the bus stop. Several bystanders ran from the approaching truck to avoid being hit. A police officer used his vehicle to push the suspect’s truck into a barrier in order to prevent it from crashing into the nearby civilians, the news release states.
“Under the circumstances, it was entirely reasonable for Commander Bonafede, Deputy Black, and Officer Allendorf to believe that Mr. Dunham was armed with a firearm, driving a stolen vehicle, and presented an imminent threat of deadly harm to themselves, fellow officers, and civilians, “ the news release states.
