Car Thefts, Possible Assaults and Water Rescues Cap a Hectic July
Trevor Phipps
Every year crimes experience an uptick in the Teller High Country once the weather starts to warm up.
But at least for the summer of 2025, crime activity has remained relatively quiet without any major incidents or major emergencies or disasters.
However, the month of July served as quite a test for first responders and law officers, clashing with this “all is quiet on the mountain” trend. The summer season has had a few notable crime events and some substantial emergency rescues.
The following are a few highlights:
Suspect Alludes Police During Stolen Vehicle Investigation
On July 10, the Woodland Park Police Department received an alert that there was a possible stolen vehicle in the Woodland Park Walmart parking lot just before 2 p.m. The vehicle was reported as a blue 2009 Nissan Murano.
Before arriving to the scene, law enforcement agents were alerted that the car theft suspected was a Hispanic male in his 30s. The report stated that the suspect was known to carry a grey semi-automatic pistol. Moreover, the authorities believe the victim was carjacked at gunpoint by the armed suspect.
“Officers attempted to contact the vehicle in the parking lot and as soon as we attempted to make contact with the occupants, the vehicle went into gear attempting to flee,” according to a Woodland Park Police Department social media post. “The vehicle turned out of the parking spot as officers attempted to stop the vehicle by preventing the vehicle from fleeing.”
Then after the police officers blocked the vehicle driven by a female suspect, it immediately went into reverse and almost struck a police officer. The female suspect in the vehicle then went fleeing through the Walmart parking lot at a high rate of speed. Just after 2 p.m. that day, law enforcement officers were spotted exiting the Walmart parking lot and traveling on the highway with full lights and sirens. The police activity halted the highway in both directions as the emergency vehicles went through the intersection.
Another officer engaged with the vehicle and attempted to pull it over as the suspect vehicle fled east on Hwy. 24 “at a very high rate of speed.” The police furnished a picture of the suspect’s vehicle and a picture of the suspect and asked anyone who was in the area at the time to contact police.
The police still have pending felony charges for the suspect and the case is still under investigation. Shortly after the incident, the police department posted an update saying that the suspect had been identified. However, they didn’t if an arrest has been made.
Victim Found Bleeding in the Heart of Downtown Woodland Park
During a busy evening in downtown Woodland Park on July 5, reports surfaced that an individual was walking down Hwy. 24 in downtown Woodland Park who was bleeding from the head and neck. “The victim was partially incoherent with medics and officers,” a police department social media post reported. “Originally, we worked this case as a potential violent crime against this person, which prompted crime scene markers and tape to preserve what we thought was an active crime scene.”
During the course of the investigation that evening though, law enforcement agents changed their tune on what they believed happened. “During the course of the night, officers discovered information that did not support a criminal act and learned the victim in this case likely sustained an accidental injury to the head from a fall,” the social media post the morning after the incident stated, “Alcohol is a factor in this case.”
Then later in the day after the incident occurred, the Woodland Park Police Department issued another social media post stating that they were continuing the investigation into what happened the night of July 5. “We thank the public for their interest in this case and ask anyone with information to call us,” the second social media post stated. “You may remain anonymous.”
Two Adults Rescued at Rampart Reservoir
Earlier this month, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Division issued a press release reminding those out recreating on the state’s lakes and other bodies of water to wear life jackets. Local first responders recently credited life jacket use for saving the lives of several recreational buffs,who encountered a bad situation during a recent outing on the water. This was reported after officials successfully rescued two adults who fell off a paddle board while out on Rampart Reservoir on July 6.
Just before 3 p.m. that Sunday afternoon, emergency calls reported that paddle boarders had fallen off of their watercraft and fell into the water. Four people (two adults and two teenagers who were not related) were out on the reservoir on paddle boards when the wind picked up and caused waves to knock them off of their paddle boards.
The four then found themselves floating in 180-feet deep water with recorded temperatures in the 50s. As soon as deputies from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office arrived, they borrowed a boat from a citizen and used it to locate the downed paddle boarders.
The deputies successfully rescued the two adults who were floating in their life jackets near their paddle boards. The deputies then found out that two other teenagers swam safely back to shore.
“The fact that these individuals chose to wear life jackets most certainly saved their lives,” CPW Area Wildlife Manager Tim Kroening said. “The majority of water-related deaths in Colorado occur because people do not wear a life jacket. In the two days prior, our team made direct contact at Rampart Reservoir with more than 400 boaters, anglers and others recreating there to ensure compliance with safety requirements and fishing licenses.”
CPW officers actively write tickets to boaters and paddlers who violate the state’s life jacket policies. The tickets can cost violators over $100.
