THORNTON, Colo. (KDVR) — A 16-year-old is in custody and two others are on the run after an attempted armed carjacking near 104th Avenue and Riverdale Road in Thornton.
Police say the suspects ran from the stolen car and took off near a dense cornfield, sparking a search.
Police in Thornton first responded to a stolen vehicle just after 1 a.m. It started as a pursuit in Aurora and ended in Thornton. Officers spotted something unusual in the area: a disabled car missing a tire.
“Officers encountered what they believed was originally an abandoned vehicle, and then quite quickly after that, they realized there were individuals,” said Lt. Ernie Lucero with Thornton Police.
Three people, according to police, tried to make a run for it. Officers used a PIT maneuver, a tactic used to end a vehicle pursuit by causing the suspect’s car to spin out and stop. Lucero says the suspects didn’t stay inside the car for long.
“There was a very short foot pursuit, and one juvenile was taken into custody,” he said.
Two others took off running near dense cornfields nearby, making it difficult for officers to get a clear line of sight, especially while it was dark outside.
Drones flew overhead and K-9 units swept the perimeter to assist in the search.
“After a pretty intensive search of the area around 104th and Riverdale, we were unable to locate them,” Lucero said. “Although this isn’t an everyday thing in the city of Thornton, I think it’s important wherever people are that they’re always being vigilant when they’re driving. I think it’s important to, you know, lock your doors. Be aware of where you’re at.”
Police still don’t know if the suspects are armed and say this appears to be a random crime. Officers say the investigation spans multiple jurisdictions and they are asking anyone with doorbell footage or tips to come forward.
If you have any information, you are urged to call Thornton police’s non-emergency tip line at 720-977-5150.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
