Off-Duty Denver Police Officer Hurt In Arvada Robbery And Shooting
ARVADA, Colo. (CBS4) - A robbery took place Wednesday morning, shots were fired and an off-duty Denver police detective was hurt at a Circle K gas station in Arvada. There was heavy police presence all morning at West 80th Avenue and Kipling Street, and Kipling was closed to traffic while an investigation took place.
A vehicle is being sought after the crime. It was described as being a gold/silver Chevrolet Equinox with body damage and no license plates. Authorities describe the suspect as a white man between 5'10'' and 6'1'' tall. He was last seen wearing a brown-colored hooded jacket, jeans, and dark shoes. Anyone with information about the crime, or who sees the vehicle, is asked to call 911.
"Somebody that is willing to fire on a police officer is a danger to this community, and we want to make sure this individual is apprehended as quickly as possible and as safe as possible," said Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen.
According to investigators, the suspect robbed the store at gunpoint around 8:43 a.m. When an off-duty Denver Police detective intervened in the parking lot, the suspect shot him, officers said.
According to Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen, the detective, who has been with DPD for 14 years, was with a family member who helped provide emergency assistance until he could be transported to Denver Health for treatment.
"Everybody was just trying to help out over there with belts and trying to stop the bleeding and stuff," said Avery Anderson, who was in the gas station getting ready to buy a drink when a man in a ski mask walked in.
In a news conference on Wednesday morning, Doctor Stephen Wolf said the detective has injuries to both arms but will be ok. According to the doctor, it is "highly likely" he will return home Wednesday night.
"It is a call you don't want to ever receive," said Chief Pazen. "Thankfully, in this situation a member of our family is going to be OK."
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Arvada police released pictures of the suspect and the vehicle he left in. A department spokesperson said detectives are also looking into any connections to two similar incidents in the Metro Area.
According to Erie Police, a male suspect, fitting a similar description, robbed another Circle K at gunpoint on Monday morning. Much like the Arvada incident, the suspect left in a Chevy Equinox. On Tuesday afternoon, Westminster Police officers responded to an armed robbery at the Winchell's where the suspect matches the description from the incident in Arvada, an investigator said.
Arvada police said with certainty that this incident is not related to a nearby carjacking on Saturday.
