Following a high-speed pursuit and a subsequent officer-involved shooting in Larimer County, the Eighth Judicial Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) is now handling investigations. According to a post on the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, in the early morning yesterday, tensions escalated rapidly when a deputy tried pulling over a vehicle, which then led to a chase and an attempted immobilization tactic known as the PIT maneuver.
The pursuit, initiated at around 2:32 a.m., resulted in the deployment of the PIT on Hwy 60 after the driver’s refusal to comply and engage in reckless, high-speed driving. The sequence of events took another alarming turn when the suspect reportedly drove directly towards the deputy, an action which in itself carries the weight of desperation, and narratives of fear and survival. It was at this point that the deputy discharged their service weapon. The outcome of those split seconds: minor injuries to both the deputy and suspect, both treated and subsequently released from medical care, though the suspect ended up in custody. Fort Collins Police Services stepped in as the primary investigating unit, implying the gravity of a night that could have spun entirely out of control…