A dramatic police search in the mountains near Norwood Sunday ended with the arrest of a man suspected of stealing a vehicle, according to the San Miguel Sheriff’s Office.
Bruce Seagrave, 47, was arrested for outstanding warrants and faces charges with alleged motor vehicle theft and vehicular eluding, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
At 10 a.m. on Nov. 15, a Colorado State Patrol trooper pursued a red Ford Focus on Colorado Highway 145 at Norwood Hill that had been reported stolen in October from Wheatridge, according to an incident report.
For public safety, the pursuit was terminated after the vehicle was reportedly driving recklessly and had reached speeds of 100 mph. The car was found abandoned a short time later hidden behind a dirt pile at mile marker 91 between Norwood and Placerville.
Inside the vehicle police found a note that read, “We don’t stop for the police.” Two sets of foot tracks could be seen heading into the woods from the car and were followed.
Multiple law enforcement agencies joined in the search including the State Patrol, San Miguel Sheriff’s Office, Norwood Marshal’s Office, Montrose Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Bureau of Land Management.
Officers followed the tracks through steep terrain north of the highway then lost them. A San Miguel Sheriff’s drone was deployed, and search teams found the tracks again higher in steep, rocky terrain.
San Miguel Sheriff Bill Masters, deputy Michael Donnellon and Norwood Marshal Mike Wilkerson continued the search on foot along a power line route. Various items were found along the trail, including the car keys.
“After several hours of tracking, the team indicated they must be close, as the fugitives who had formerly been cautious about not stepping in snow, now appeared to be running,” according to a San Miguel Sheriff’s Office report.
About 3 p.m. the suspects were spotted, and after a short foot pursuit, were apprehended. Seagrave and a 37-year-old female from Grand Junction were taken into custody. The female was later released.
“I really have to thank the citizens that called in and reported seeing the suspects as they were being pursued by the State Patrol, Norwood Marshall Wilkerson and the ‘never-give-up’ attitude of our deputy sheriffs, we all made a good team,” said Masters.
jmimiaga@the-journal.com