Critical incident briefing - 07/12/22 CIRT case
The Larimer County Sheriff's Office has released a video summary of the critical incident that occurred on July 12, 2022. The video includes remarks from Sheriff John Feyen and body-worn camera footage. Viewer discretion is advised. The video is available at https://youtu.be/gghCv7zWI3w
After reviewing the investigation conducted by the 8th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team, the District Attorney determined the deputies' actions were justified. The suspect survived; in 2023, he was prosecuted and sentenced to 34 years in prison. The D.A.'s conclusion letter with additional case details is available at https://www.larimer.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/2022/bryan_erdbruegger_cirt_release_07-12-22.pdf
Statement from Sheriff John Feyen
In July of last year, a man forced our deputies into a life-threatening confrontation. The man purposely drove in a reckless manner on Timberline Road with the intention of getting pulled over. When an LCSO deputy stopped him, the man pulled out a handgun and fired 17-18 shots. Multiple rounds struck the deputy's vehicle, including the hood, door, and light right next to his head. At one point, the deputy ran out of ammunition and didn't have a chance to reload before the suspect approached him and fired another round. A second deputy arrived and fired, striking the suspect and stopping the violent attack.
Miraculously, the passing drivers, law enforcement personnel, and a K9 in the first deputy's vehicle were all uninjured. Once the scene was safe, deputies began providing lifesaving first aid until EMS arrived, and the suspect ultimately survived.
The suspect was prosecuted for his crimes, and he was recently sentenced to 34 years in prison. Now that the case has concluded, we're releasing body camera footage from the incident. This offers a jarring perspective into the unknowns and dangers that law enforcement professionals face each time they start a shift.
I'm extremely grateful that no innocent people were physically harmed that night. That being said, incidents like this take a less visible but very real toll -- on deputies, families, the agency, and our community as a whole.
