Colorado police officer dies after falling from bridge during pursuit

A Colorado police officer has died after he plummeted 40 ft from a bridge whereas monitoring down a carjacking suspect, cops mentioned.

Married dad of two Julian Becerra died at a neighborhood hospital Saturday night time greater than per week after he was critically injured through the prison pursuit, officers mentioned. The Fountain police officer was 35 and beforehand served within the US Air Power.

“We admire the general public’s outpouring of assist over the previous week for Officer Becerra, his household and the Fountain Police Division,” division spokesperson Lisa Schneider mentioned in an announcement.

Officers had been referred to as in to help the Division of Corrections to trace down three carjacking suspects round 4 p.m. on Feb. 2 that led to a number of pursuits all through the realm, police mentioned.

At one level, the suspects even tried to steal one other automobile, earlier than officers had been capable of disable their trip round 8 p.m. close to a Colorado Springs bridge, Fountain Police Commander Mark Cristiani mentioned.

Becerra chased after the motive force when he fled from the automobile, and through that pursuit he fell from the bridge and right into a riverbed, Cristiani mentioned.

Through the chase, the motive force tried to leap off the bridge, however officers grabbed him earlier than he fell over, police mentioned.

Becerra, a four-year veteran of the division, was positioned on life assist Friday, surrounded by family members, The Gazette reported.

Becerra’s brother-in-law lauded Becerra days earlier than he died as “only a implausible man.”

“I’ve truly gotten to study quite a bit from him as a dad, and an ideal husband as effectively, simply all the time there for his household, and by no means complaining,” David Alderman instructed Denver 7.

Suspects Devon Bobian, 31, Danisha Pacheco, 28 and Anthony Vallejos, 37, had been arrested in connection to the automobile chase, police mentioned.

Bobian and Vallejos had been taken into custody on a number of lively felony warrants, in addition to a number of felony fees tied to the chase, Denver 7 reported.

Pacheco was going through felony fees for his alleged involvement within the pursuit.

Becerra leaves behind an 8-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son, in response to the TV station.

A procession was held late Saturday to maneuver his physique from the hospital to the El Paso County Coroner’s Workplace, the division mentioned.

Fountain Mayor Sharon Thompson mentioned in an announcement Sunday the town is “heartbroken” over Becerra’s demise, in response to The Gazette.

“Fountain will eternally be pleased about the selfless service and bravado of Officer Julian Becerra, and we’re so proud and grateful for all our cops and first responders who hold our group secure day-after-day,” Thompson mentioned. 

With Publish wires