Bank Robbery Suspect Steals Police Car Before Being Apprehended
MONTE VISTA, Colo. (CBS4) - A daring bank robbery suspect was arrested after a wild pursuit in the San Luis Valley early Wednesday morning.
According to the Rio Grande County Sheriff's Office, Joseph Michael Gutierrez, 26, who was wanted for robbing the Community Banks of Colorado in Center, was spotted at the Movie Manor Motel in Monte Vista. When police made contact with him he fled and stole a police car. He pointed a gun at officers, who fired at him but didn't hit him.
Police said Gutierrez then got out of the stolen police car and stole another vehicle, but crashed it into a fence pole and large rock. He then tried to steal a third vehicle but it had no keys.
Officers found Gutierrez hiding behind a wood pile, fired a stun gun at him and finally arrested him.
Gutierrez faces numerous charges, including felony menacing, motor vehicle theft, trespassing and reckless driving. Police say also he had $6,000 cash on him when they took him into custody.
According to the Alamosa Valley Courier, last August Gutierrez was arrested at the San Luis Valley Federal Bank in Monte Vista after attempting to exchange numerous allegedly cocaine-tainted $1 bills for larger bills.