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Crime

23rd Jun 2022

‘Drunk’ man steals cop car – responds to domestic violence callout ‘identifying himself as a deputy’

Steve Hopkins

Jeremiah James Taylor faces eight charges including aggravated motor vehicle theft

A Colorado man allegedly stole a police patrol car while intoxicated and then attended a domestic violence callout before leading officers on a high-speed chase.

Jeremiah James Taylor faces eight charges, including aggravated motor vehicle theft, after the incident on Monday morning which began after he allegedly broke into an unstaffed Park County Sheriff’s substation and stole a 2013 Dodge Durango.

The 33-year-old then drove to nearby Teller County after officials broadcast a domestic violence incident around 3.30am over the police radio.

Residents told KDVR that Taylor walked up to them, appearing drunk, identified himself as a deputy, and asked: “Where’s the old man that’s going to shoot someone?”

When police arrived at the scene around 10 minutes later, the stolen vehicle was seen leaving the property and Taylor was ordered to stop.

Instead, he’s alleged to have sped off at a “high rate of speed” leading police on a 110mph (177kmh) chase before crashing the Dodge into the woods.

According to an incident report obtained by DailyMail.com, deputies found Taylor in a bush, and following a confrontation, tasered him.

Taylor was reportedly hospitalised with self-inflicted knife wounds and has since been charged.

Park County Sheriff Tom McGraw told KDVR that his “biggest concern” was that the pursuit would lead to “a law enforcement vehicle crashing into an innocent citizen”.

Taylor has been charged with aggravated motor vehicle theft, vehicular eluding, impersonating a peace officer, obstruction, resisting arrest, reckless endangerment, second-degree burglary and reckless driving.

The suspect was also being investigated for several other crimes that occurred in the area ahead of the patrol car theft in Park County, the Mail reported, adding that Taylor was also on probation for menacing, theft and DUI at the time of the incident.

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