Escaped Colorado suspect Luis Fernando Cerda-Regaldo caught in Larkspur
The search for a suspect who escaped from custody in Weld County on Wednesday ended Saturday.
Deputies and a citizen located Luis Fernando Cerda-Regaldo hiding in a barn on private property in the Larkspur area. He was taken into custody without incident, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office issued a shelter-in-place order for residents west of Spruce Mountain Road in Larkspur. Deputies in marked cruisers and SWAT personnel could be seen patrolling dirt roads and private ranch properties.
Authorities did not find Cerda-Regaldo and the shelter-in-place order was lifted at 7:45 p.m., more than five hours after it was issued. DCSO planned to keep personnel on patrol in the area overnight, a spokesperson confirmed.
That spokesperson, DCSO's Deborah Takahara, stated that witnesses reported earlier Friday seeing a man matching Cerda-Regaldo's description running from a vehicle that was parked on Interstate 25 near the Spruce Mountain Road exit. That vehicle turned out to be stolen, per Takahara.
Authorities said Cerda-Regaldo was in the custody of the Weld County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday when he was taken to the Northern Colorado Medical Center to get medically cleared before being booked into jail.
While at the medical center in Greeley, he escaped from custody and ran away about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
He had been arrested by the Weld County Sheriff's Office earlier in the day on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, obstruction, and attempt to influence law enforcement.
Cerda-Regaldo is described as a white male, 27 years old, 5-foot-10, 200 pounds with brown eyes, black hair and a short beard. He also has a tattoo of an unknown design on his right arm.
He was last seen wearing black pants, a black shirt with cutoff sleeves and a black baseball cap. Witnesses saw the suspect walking away from a stolen car that was parked along I-25 near Spruce Mountain Road. That car has since been towed.
A shelter in place has been issued in the Larkspur area of Fox Farm Road and Spruce Mountain Road. Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputies and the Douglas County Regional SWAT team are actively searching for Luis Fernando Certa-Regaldo, who is wanted for escaping from Weld… pic.twitter.com/0IWOFPzCSm
— DC Sheriff (@dcsheriff) November 17, 2023
The sheriff's office is asking if the public sees him or knows of his whereabouts to please call 911 or contact the sheriff's office immediately at (970) 350-9600. All charges are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Tips can also be submitted to Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit the Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers Facebook page. Those submitting tips through Crime Stoppers that lead to the arrest and filing of charges on a suspect(s)may be eligible for a cash reward.