Lakewood policeman kills fleeing man suspected in armed threat
LAKEWOOD – Denver police Thursday continued their investigation into the death of a man who was shot and killed at Sloan’s Lake as he tried to flee from Lakewood Police Officers.
The man, who has not been identified, was pronounced dead at St. Anthony’s Central Hospital, which is just a few hundred yards from where the suspect was shot by a Lakewood policeman following a chase Wednesday evening. A handgun was found next to his body, police said.
Denver police are investigating the incident because the shooting occurred just inside that city.
The officer and his partner both were placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure in such cases, said Steve Davis, Lakewood Police spokesman.
The incident began in the parking lot of a liquor store at 65 S. Sheridan Boulevard in Lakewood when an argument broke out between a man walking through the parking lot, the dead man and a woman who was with him in a mini-van in the liquor store parking lot.
“When that man walked up to the driver’s window, he could see that the male driver had a gun in his hand,” Davis said. “The guy backed off and went into the store” and called police.
The van left the liquor parking lot before police arrived, but two Lakewood officers in an unmarked SUV soon spotted the vehicle near W. 12th and Sheridan. The officers attempted to stop the van using the flashing lights and siren, but the driver tried to evade them.
“It was a pursuit that didn’t last for long. It did go into the City and County of Denver for a little bit, then came back west onto Sheridan,” Davis said.
The driver turned north on Sheridan, but made a wide U-turn at W. 17th Avenue and rammed the pursuing LPD vehicle, said Sonny Jackson, Denver Police spokesman.
After the collision, the suspect jumped from his vehicle and ran north through the park between the lake and Sheridan Boulevard.
“One of the officers, a female officer who was in the passenger seat, was unable to open her door,” Davis said. “The other officer, who was driving, exited his vehicle and the suspect got out of his van, meantime and started running toward Sloan’s Lake.”
The shooting took place soon after the foot chase began.
”We found a weapon next to the suspect in the grass,” Davis said.
Investigators had not determined whether the suspect fired at the pursuing officer.
“Obviously he felt there was enough of a threat to shoot,” Davis said.
Neither officer was injured in the collision.
The woman who was with the suspect was detained for questioning, but Denver Police said they do not know whether they will charge her in connection with the case.
And lakewood police do not believe they will files charges against her.
“It does not appear she did anything culpable,” Davis said.
