Longmont man caught after police chase

A 35-year-old Longmont man is facing several charges related to a Tuesday morning police chase on U.S 287 just north of the city.

Mitchell Alberto Verdugo-Felix was arrested by Longmont Police on U.S. 287 and Vermillion Road shortly after midnight on Tuesday on two counts of vehicular assault, aggravated motor vehicle theft, criminal attempt, robbery, reckless driving and third degree assault, according to the arrest affidavit written by Longmont Police Officer Kristopher Ford.

Verdugo-Felix was out on bond before being previously arrested for two counts of aggravated motor vehicle theft in Boulder County and for aggravated motor vehicle theft, criminal possession of a financial device, first degree criminal trespass, theft and criminal mischief in Weld County, according to the affidavit. The suspect — who was booked into Boulder County Jail — has a 25 page criminal history on top of the open cases mentioned in the affidavit.

Ford said in the affidavit he was dispatched on a motor vehicle theft at 965 Hover Road at the Smashburger about midnight Tuesday. The caller said he went inside the business while his Dodge Ram 3500 was running with keys in the ignition. 

Another officer in an unmarked vehicle spotted the pickup going northbound on U.S. 287 outside of Longmont. The officer tracked the vehicle Yellowstone Road east to N. 115th St., back south of Vermillion Road, the affidavit states.

Ford spotted the truck traveling westbound approaching the stop sign at the intersection. Ford said he pulled up to the intersection and partially blocked the eastbound lane. The suspect — Verdugo-Felix — looked at Ford and drove through the intersection in front of Ford’s vehicle and another vehicle stopped at the intersection, the affidavit states.

Ford said he watched from the right turn lane as the suspect tried to drive through several lanes of U.S. 287 but that southbound traffic was too heavy. The suspect drove in front of a black pickup which struck the right side of Verguo-Felix’s pickup, the affidavit states.

Ford put on his emergency lights and dove across the roadway to the Ram pickup. As Ford was pulling up, the suspect got out of his vehicle and started running for Yellowstone Road where several cars were stopped at the eastbound STOP sign, the affidavit said.

Verdugo-Felix ran around the back of a gold F-150, toward the driver’s door and attempted to get into or open the door. The driver of the F-150 took off leaving the suspect in the roadway. Ford said he had drawn his Taser and activated it to the ON position, the affidavit states. 

Ford gave loud commands for Verdugo-Felix to get on the ground, then he put his hands behind his back. Another officer helped handcuff the suspect, who was in custody about 12:17 a.m. Tuesday, the affidavit states.

Longmont Police are asking to speak with any witnesses who have not provided a statement to police related to the arrest of Verdugo-Felix, said Public Safety spokeswoman Robin Ericson. Police want to talk to the driver of the gold, approximately 1997-2008, Ford F-150 stopped on Vermillion Road facing east at the stop sign when the crash occurred. 

Please call Officer Ford at 303-774-4300 ext. 3079.