CHAFFEE COUNTY SHERIFF‚S OFFICE
Salida, Colorado
PRESS RELEASE
For release Thursday, June 16, 2011
At about 3:30 pm Thursday, an alert was aired by the Chaffee County emergency dispatch center of an escapee from Conejos County jail. A subject in custody of that agency on murder charges had somehow escaped in a stolen sheriff‚s transport vehicle and had last been seen in Alamosa about an hour and a half earlier.
At about 3:45pm, Chaffee County sheriff‚s sergeant Spencer Blades spotted the vehicle, a 2005 white Chevrolet sedan, as it traveled east over Poncha Pass. Sergeant Blades notified other units in the county and followed the vehicle as it descended the pass. Undersheriff Spezze and several deputies, along with Salida police officer Rob Martellaro, converged in Poncha Springs as the vehicle entered that town. With cover cars now present, Sergeant Blades activated his red lights and siren. The stolen vehicle accelerated and went west on US 50 toward Monarch.
The pursuit continued west on US 50 reaching speeds of 80 mph, but was forced to slow to 45 mph due to traffic in the Maysville area. At this point, Gunnison County Sheriff‚s Office and the Colorado State Patrol had been notified and officeres were approaching from the west. Approximately five cars were now behind the stolen car, with the pursuit being directed by Undersheriff Spezze. Businesses ahead of the pursuit were called by the CCSO dispatch center and told to lock their doors to head off any possibility that the escapee might stop and take hostages. Meanwhile, Gunnison County deputies and state troopers had begun to close traffic on the highway to prevent an accident. At one point, the pursued vehicle swerved toward Sergeant Blades‚ vehicle in an attempt to force him off the road.‰
At about a half mile east of Sargents, state troopers deployed „stop sticks‰ in the roadway. The pursued vehicle hit them, and at least two tires deflated immediately. Gunnison County deputies deployed another set and the pursued vehicle hit those also, deflating all four tires. The vehicle finally came to a halt about a mile west of Sargents and the escapee was arrested without further incident.
Sheriff Pete Palmer, monitoring the pursuit by radio, called the chase „a text book case in correct pursuit tactics. Coordination among agencies was remarkable, all officers and dispatchers displayed exceptional calmness, and every precaution was taken to protect the public.‰
The escapee was booked into the Chaffee County Detention Facility. He is identified as:
Tyron Jay MARTINEZ, age 33. Martinez has an extensive criminal history.
Other details concerning Martinez are unknown at this time.
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Note: for more information, call either John Spezze or Sheriff Pete Palmer at 719-539-2814∑ but not tonight!
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