LONGMONT, Colo. – A suspect was wanted over the weekend not only for an active warrant for check forgery but also for allegedly running over a Longmont Police Department officer as he was about to be questioned by police.
Richard Jeffs, 47, was contacted by Longmont police near 8th Avenue and Main Street at around 5 p.m. Friday. A spokesperson for the police department said the officer recognized him and knew he had an arrest warrant.
When the officer when to question Jeffs, the suspect backed out of a parking space, striking the police officer before continuing to back up to Main Street and fleeing shortly after.
The officer was taken to Longmont United Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to spokesman Jeff Satur, who added the officer is “conscious, talking and in good spirits.” He was being treated for a fracture in his shoulder region as well as an ankle injury. He was expected to be released from the hospital before 10 p.m.
Jeffs has an active FTA warrant for sentencing on forgery of checks, with a bond set at $20,000. The additional warrant out for his arrest after reportedly striking the officer cites several charges, including: assault on a peace officer, assault causing serious bodily injury, reckless endangerment and reckless driving.
Initially, police reported Jeffs was driving a silver 2004 Audi station wagon bearing Colorado license plate OPO-966. Satur said the car was found just after 6:30 p.m. Friday near a Discount Tire store on South Hover Street.
Jeffs, however, remained on the loose into Saturday morning. The suspect is now believed to be driving a gray 1999 Jeep Cherokee with Colorado license plate KLQ-739.
Jeffs is 6-foot-3-inches tall, weighs 195 pounds and has brown hair and hazel eyes.
Anyone with information on Richard Jeffs is asked to call the Longmont please department immediately at 303-651-8501.
