Stolen pickup results in pursuit near Aspen

A man allegedly stole a pickup truck from Glenwood Springs on Sunday before driving it to Aspen and engaging police in a high speed pursuit, according to local officials. 

The victim reported their silver 1999 Ford F350 stolen at 1:49 p.m. on Sunday, according to Wendy Bautista, Glenwood Springs Police Department office administrator. The vehicle was allegedly stolen from Midas auto repair shop on the corner of 19th Street and Grand Avenue. 

The victim told police their friend had seen their vehicle upvalley, at which point authorities issued a “be on the lookout” alert to upvalley agencies at around 2:15 p.m.

After attempting to pull the vehicle over in Aspen, Aspen Police chased the vehicle downvalley, according to Pitkin County Sheriff Michael Buglione. He did not know if the chase occurred on Colorado Highway 82 or McLain Flats Road. 

The chase continued onto the Rio Grande Trail west of the Old Snowmass traffic light, according to a PitkinAlert issued at 3:03 p.m. on Sunday. The vehicle chase concluded where the Rio Grande Trail meets the Holland Hills subdivision east of Basalt, Buglione said. No one was hurt in the incident. 

“It ended peacefully and safely, no one was hurt,” Buglione said. “That’s the most important thing and the suspect was taken into custody.” 

In addition to Aspen and Glenwood Springs police as well as the Pitkin and Garfield county sheriff’s offices, the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office, Pitkin County Road & Bridge, Pitkin County Open Space & Trail, Roaring Fork Fire Protection District, and Colorado State Patrol assisted on the call. Basalt and Snowmass police were ready to aid the efforts if the chase arrived in their jurisdictions. 

The Aspen Police Department declined to provide further information on this case.

Skyler Stark-Ragsdale can be reached at 970-429-9152 or email him at sstark-ragsdale@aspentimes.com.