A Durango man accused of an armed carjacking last month at Fort Lewis College was charged Thursday in District Court with multiple felonies.
Roger Chase Brassard, 25, is accused of second-degree kidnapping, aggravated robbery, menacing, aggravated motor vehicle theft and possession of a weapon by a previous offender.
He faces up to 24 years in prison if convicted of second-degree kidnapping and is being held on $50,000 bail at the La Plata County Jail.
Under Colorado’s “three strikes” law, Brassard is being charged as a habitual offender because he has been convicted of three prior felonies.
Brassard is suspected of approaching a man who was waiting inside a truck about 8 p.m. Nov. 27 outside Jones Hall at Fort Lewis College.
According to police, Brassard, armed with a handgun, forced the driver into the passenger seat and sat down in the driver’s seat. He then drove the truck down North College Drive, went north on East Animas Road (County Road 250), turned left on Trimble Lane (County Road 252) and drove out to a location along U.S. Highway 550, where he turned onto railroad tracks and became stuck.
He then forced the man to help try to dislodge the truck from the railroad tracks, according to an arrest affidavit. The victim told police he eventually ran away into the dark before flagging down a driver for help.
Brassard is accused of firing multiple gunshots during the incident, though no one was injured.
He was later arrested on a criminal mischief and domestic violence warrant for a separate incident that occurred later that night at the Iron Horse Inn, 5800 Main Ave.
The incidents are being handled as separate cases, said 6th Judicial District Attorney Christian Champagne.
mrupani@durangoherald.com
