An intoxicated driver led law enforcement agencies on a 6.2-mile car chase Saturday night that ended on Market Street in Cortez.
A Montezuma County Sheriff’s sergeant saw Daniel Lehi, 38, pull out of Eagle Claw Liquor Store, at 4321 U.S. Highway 160, without yielding and with no visible registration at 11 p.m. The officer turned on his lights and the driver refused to yield for about eight minutes.
“As soon as it came into town, the city took over, and then the State Patrol came and assisted, and that was it. He decided to finally pull over,” Sheriff Steve Nowlin said.
As Lehi and the MCSO sergeant headed north on U.S. Highway 160, Lehi reportedly drove at times in the oncoming traffic lane. Lehi drove 67 mph in a 40 mph zone on South Broadway, and slowed to turn onto West Seventh Street, nearly hitting Cortez Police vehicle, the report said.
While traveling east on West Seventh Street, Lehi reportedly rolled down his window to flip off the sergeant, according to an MCSO incident report. Lehi failed to obey two stop signs, then turned left onto South Chestnut Street, right onto West Fifth Street and left onto South Market Street, where a police vehicle blocked Lehi’s vehicle in front and a Colorado State Patrol trooper boxed him in from behind. No one was reported injured during the pursuit.
Interviewed by police, a passenger reportedly said Lehi had been refused service at Eagle Claw Liquor Store, and refused his pleas to stop the vehicle. The passenger was given a ride to Bridge Emergency Shelter for the night.
The MSCO report said Lehi refused to comply with police commands and spat in the face of a police sergeant. Several open containers of alcohol were found in the vehicle.
Police arrested Lehi on charges of DUI, driving on a revoked license as a habitual offender, driving without insurance, reckless driving, vehicular eluding and second-degree assault for spitting on an officer.
Nowlin said Lehi was released on bond Jan. 1. He is scheduled for a filing of charges in Montezuma County Court on Dec. 9.
sdolan@the-journal.com
