COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A man was arrested Saturday after allegedly assaulting a Colorado Springs police officer and driving off in the officer’s car.
On Saturday early evening, the police department received a report of a suspicious person in the area of Uintah Street and Interstate 25. An officer responded and found a man on the southbound ramp to I-25 from Uintah Street, police said.
The suspect and officer got into a physical altercation and the suspect was able to get inside the marked police cruiser and started driving southbound on I-25.
Around 7:10 p.m., the police department received information — though it’s not clear where it came from — of an officer down in that area.
The officer’s injuries are unknown, but are not life-threatening, police said.
The suspect lost control of the car shortly after driving onto I-25. The car rolled north of Bijou Street in the southbound lanes of the interstate.
The suspect, who had injuries that were not life-threatening, was taken into custody at the site of the crash. He was identified as Richard Payne, 36, and was charged with second-degree assault on a peace officer, aggravated motor vehicle theft and driving under the influence of drugs.
The Colorado Springs Police Department’s Violent Crimes Section and the Major Accident Unit is investigating.
Anyone with information or who witnessed this crime is asked to call the Colorado Springs Police Department at 719-444-7000. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 719-634-7867 or 1-800-222-8477.
