Brighton Incident Ends Peacefully

Wednesday afternoon at about 5:25 PM, Brighton police officers were dispatched to the King Soopers at 500 E. Bromley Lane on a report of a man acting suspiciously in the store. Officer Monce Portillo, Reserve Officer Jeremy Gilmartin, and Officer Paul McClendon arrived and contacted King Soopers personnel who pointed out the man. When the officers contacted the man he ran. Officers chased the man, 19 year old David Martinez. When Martinez ran officers saw the butt of a gun in his waistband.

Martinez ran northwest through King Soopers parking lot and then ran across Bromley Lane. He then ran east towards 8th Ave with officers in foot pursuit. Martinez ran around a stopped Jeep in traffic, got into the passenger side of the vehicle and forced the driver to drive back to the King Soopers parking lot. Officer Robin Wilson and Officer Justin Moore arrived on scene in patrol cars, pulled in behind the Jeep and saw Martinez forcing the Jeep owner to drive and elude police. The kidnapped driver, an 18 year old male, was driving at a very low speed. The pursuit went east on Bromley to 10th Ave, avoiding other officers with stop sticks, north to Voiles St, Voiles St to 8th Ave, 8th Ave to Jessup St and Jessup St west past 4th Ave.

During the pursuit, Martinez made the kidnapped driver trade places with him. Martinez then continued westbound on Jessup, then northbound on Main, east on Bridge St, South on Cabbage Ave, west on Bush St, then south again on Main Street. Martinez then went North on Highway 85. During the pursuit speeds ranged from 30 mph to about 70 mph. Martinez disregarded several stop signs and the police vehicles behind him with lights and sirens. Officer Moore deployed stop sticks on Hwy 85 at about Southern Street. Martinez drove over the stop sticks deflating both passenger side tires.

Martinez exited the highway at Bridge St, then stopped south of Bridge St on S 1st Avenue. Martinez fled from the Jeep on foot. Martinez ran and was apprehended at S Main Street, after a struggle with Officer Moore, Officer Perdomo, Officer Portillo and Sgt Jim DeVries. An air soft pistol was taken from Martinez.

The Jeep owner was safe and uninjured, grateful to police. Several officers received minor scraps/injuries in the foot pursuit and the physical arrest. They were treated and released back to duty.

David Martinez was uninjured and taken to the Adams County Detention Center pending charges of 2nd Degree Kidnapping, Felony Habitual Traffic Offender, Felony Eluding, Reckless Endangerment and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

The case remains under investigation and will be presented to the District Attorney's Office for filing of charges.