Brighton Police Say Suspect Who Hit Officer With Jeep Has Changed Vehicles
BRIGHTON, Colo. (CBS4) - Police in Brighton have released new information regarding the search for a Longmont man accused of striking an officer and three police cars with a vehicle on Friday.
Police believe Mark Duane Molstad, 52, struck the officer and police cars with his vehicle before speeding away. Authorities located the vehicle he was in and now think Molstad is traveling in a black Ford F-250 or F-350 pickup with Colorado plates 739-NTK.
The initial incident happened while officers were working traffic control at the intersection of Highway 85 and Weld County Road 2 due to a malfunctioning traffic signal. About 4:52 p.m. dispatch advised the officers that a woman reportedly being followed by her ex-husband on southbound Highway 85 was approaching their location.
As officers approached the woman's vehicle to make contact with her, a white Jeep Compass directly behind her rapidly swung out of the lanes of traffic, striking a Brighton police officer in the leg before speeding away southbound on Highway 85 to Bridge Street.
The Compass then exited the highway and headed west on Highway 7 to Miller Street where the driver then turned south into the Crown Homes area. During the course of the short pursuit the suspect struck three police cars with the Compass.
Out of concern for public safety, police terminated the pursuit.
Molstad is described as 6 feet tall, 200 pounds with red hair and a beard.
The officer who was struck was released from the hospital Friday night. His name hasn't been released.
Additional Information From Brighton Police
Anyone with any information about the location of either Mark Duane Molstad or the white Jeep Cherokee should not try to apprehend them but instead immediately call 911.