Former Colorado Trooper Wesley Dakan Accused Of Pointing Rifle At Car, Witnesses Asked To Come Forward
DENVER (CBS4) - Witnesses are still being asked to come forward to help with an investigation after a Colorado State Trooper was fired on June 1. Wesley Dakan was arrested for allegedly pointing a rifle from his vehicle at a person or people in another car.
t happened April 25 at 10th Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard, which is in west Denver right by the Lakewood border. Dakan, 44, was not on duty at the time.
According to the report released Monday, Dakan pulled out the gun from the rear of his Subaru Crosstrek after a man in a Subaru WRX got out of the stopped car to walk back and apparently confront Dakan before getting back in the other car. Dakan appeared to get the gun ready to fire and pointed it at the WRX. The other car left after initially stalling and Dakan, after putting the gun back in the car, headed in the same direction, the document said.
There had been some dispute before Dakan allegedly pulled out the rifle, according to the report. The woman driving the WRX got out of the car at an intersection shortly before and waved her arms and yelled aggressively at Dakan, a witness told police. The witness stopped to watch what would happen when both cars then pulled over and told police that Dakan seemed "uncomfortable" holding the gun, which a state patrol official said could be an agency-issued AR-15, the report said.
The Denver District Attorney's office says there are victims from the incident who have not come forward, as well as possible witnesses. They are hoping they will do so.
A photo of the Crosstrek's license plate led to Dakan's arrest on two felony menacing charges.
Dakan was fired after the completion of an internal investigation at the Colorado State Patrol and he's scheduled to appear in court later this month.
The CSP shared the following statement about the case:
The Colorado State Patrol and its members are here to ensure the safety of all persons and to live our core values of honor, duty and respect. We take these standards seriously, and recognize that the success of our mission depends upon maintaining the trust and the safety of the public we serve. We respect and defer to the criminal court process regarding the charges brought against a former Colorado State Patrol Trooper.
Victims or witnesses who might have information that could help authorities in this investigation are asked to call Metro Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-7867.
(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
