DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. – A Denver man was arrested Thursday after leading deputies on a chase and firing a weapon as he tried to escape, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release Friday.
Manuelito Dewane Vigil, 21, was arrested Thursday and booked on several charges, including attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer in connection to the alleged crime which took place in the early hours of January 27.
That morning, at around 5:36 a.m., a patrol deputy was responding to the area of Freeport Drive in Highlands Ranch on a report of a suspicious vehicle. The person who reported the vehicle told authorities the suspect vehicle appeared to be a silver van “that was possibly breaking into vehicles,” according to the release from the sheriff’s office.
While patrolling the area, the deputy spotted a grey van that matched the description of the vehicle parked on a nearby residential street, close to the initial report of the call.
When the deputy drove past the vehicle, the suspect began to drive away and once the deputy turned around to follow the van, the suspect started speeding away from the scene with its headlights turned off, according to the release.
Another deputy was then called in to assist in the capture of the suspect, who reportedly fired two shots as he sped away from the second deputy. Eventually, patrol deputies searched the surrounding area but were unable to find the vehicle or the suspect. Spent shell casings were discovered at the scene.
During the investigation, authorities determined that the vehicle – a Chrysler Pacifica – was stolen. Authorities were also able to identify the suspect, who was later taken into custody.
Vigil was booked into the Douglas County Detention Facility on the attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer charge, as well as vehicular eluding, possession of weapons by a previous offender, violation of bail bond conditions, possession of burglary tools, and first-degree aggravated motor vehicle theft. Vigil also had a felony warrant out of another jurisdiction, the news release states.
He appeared in court Friday and was being held on a $1 million bond.
His next court date will be on February 6.
