Arrest of Suspected Police Impersonator - El Paso County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:       Date: 10-29-09    Time: 4:50 PM

The Colorado State Patrol is seeking assistance from the public on locating motorists who may have been stopped or contacted by a police impersonator in the El Paso County area.

On 10/28/09 at approximately 9:02 PM the Colorado State Patrol communications center received a call from a female driver who believed that a police impersonator was attempting to pull vehicles over on Interstate 25. State Patrol Troopers were dispatched to the area.

At approximately 10:20 PM, State Troopers located the vehicle a 1995 gray, full-size Cadillac sedan.  The vehicle was equipped with flashing white strobe lights in the front windshield and flashing white and yellow strobe lights in the rear window. The suspect was wearing a uniform with security guard patches and a gold security badge with the word "Chief" printed at the top. On his belt he had handcuffs and a black toy pistol.

The suspect, a 24-year-old white male from Colorado Springs, Colorado, was arrested and booked into El Paso County Jail for Felony Police Impersonation and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. The Colorado State Patrol is not releasing the suspect's name or booking photo at this time pending further investigation.  The suspect identity and photo will be released as the investigation progresses. The vehicle has been impounded by the State Patrol.

The Colorado State Patrol is working with law enforcement agencies in the surrounding counties, as well as the Colorado Information Analysis Center (CIAC) to determine if the suspect is linked to other such cases.  If a motorist has been stopped recently by someone they suspect as a police impersonator matching this description, they are asked to call the Colorado State Patrol at 303-239-4501.  

Fatal Construction Zone Crash - Eastbound C470 near Broadway - Douglas County

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:       Date: 10-24-09    Time: 4:30 PM

On 10-24-09 at approximately 04:15 AM Colorado State Patrol troopers responded to a construction zone accident on eastbound Colorado 470 just east of Broadway (milepost 20) in Douglas County.

A black 2007 Dodge Charger was eastbound on C470 in the right lane. There was a closure of the right lane due to a construction project. An Orange 1996 ELI Pelican street sweeper was in the construction zone when the front of the Dodge struck the rear of the street sweeper. The collision caused the ejection of an occupant from the street sweeper. The Dodge then struck other construction related equipment before coming to rest in the right lane.

The unrestrained male driver of the Dodge has been identified as Christopher T. Chialtas, 40 of Highlands Ranch, CO. Chialtas sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at Littleton Hospital.

The injured male construction worker has been identified as Donald F. Pacheco, 37 of Pueblo, CO. Pacheco sustained serious injuries and was transported to Littleton Hospital.

Alcohol IS suspected of being a contributing factor.  

Next of kin HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.