The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Suspect eventually apprehended in Montrose
[ by Olivia Lueckemeyer ]A routine welfare check turned into something much more perilous last Friday, when a police chase ensued between two suspects and Gunnison sheriff’s officers. The driver, 23-year-old Javier Humberto Guardado of Montrose, temporarily eluded police, only to eventually be apprehended by Montrose authorities.
On Friday, April 29 at approximately 8 p.m., Gunnison County sheriff’s officers were conducting a welfare check on an individual in the Hartman Rocks area when one officer attempted to stop an unassociated vehicle. Upon being flagged down, the driver accelerated the vehicle and began driving in a reckless manner, nearly colliding with the patrol car.
Gunnison County sheriff Rick Besecker explained that red flags were raised when the officer attempted to make contact after the car eventually came to a stop.
“When the officer tried to make contact, the car drove off at a high rate of speed, which is what drew suspicion,” Besecker said.
Subsequently a pursuit ensued that resulted in the passenger exiting the vehicle as it slowed, and the driver continuing into the Senior Care Center, where he further eluded officers on foot through an alarmed exit. Besecker said the identity of the passenger, a 24-year-old Gunnison male, is protected as he is currently being considered a witness to the crime.
“A trailing patrol officer contacted the passenger and through his declaration, we established who the driver of the vehicle was,” Besecker said. “An officer also recognized the driver and was able to confirm his identity by sight.”
After midnight Guardado was once again spotted at Love’s Country Store, this time as a passenger in a different car. The driver of the vehicle did not know the recent history Guardado had with the police. That person has been cleared of any crime.
A warrant for Guardado was established and he was eventually located and arrested in Montrose, where he was wanted on several warrants. Besecker said he has been unable to reach Montrose police and is unsure of the circumstances of Guardado’s arrest.
The Gunnison County warrants for Guardado include reckless driving, vehicular eluding, reckless endangerment, obstructing a peace officer, second degree burglary, first degree criminal trespass, child abuse, driving a vehicle while license is revoked as a habitual traffic offender (in the aggravated range), disregarding traffic control device(s), and failure to use turn signals.
Besecker said a great portion of the incident is still under investigation, and the last he had heard, “The suspect was trying to arrange for bond in the Montrose County Jail.”
