A man was arrested early Tuesday after allegedly robbing a man on Cortez’s Main Street, stealing a car and leading police on a chase through town before colliding with a squad car near East Empire Street.
The suspect, Brett Aprahamian, faces more than a dozen charges including a felony charge of aggravated robbery as well as vehicular eluding, first-degree motor vehicle theft and DUI. He was being held Friday in the Montezuma County Detention Center on a parole hold.
The investigation began about 1 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, when police officers responded to a 911 call from Jacob Begley, who reported that he had been robbed at knifepoint outside the Aneth Lodge, 645 E. Main St. Begley said he was walking from the Speedway gas station when he was approached by a man who demanded he give him his money or he would “F him up.”
Begley said the man pointed a knife at him, and he gave him his wallet, phone and tobacco to the man “to prevent harm,” according to the incident report.
While officer Shane Fletcher spoke with Begley, officer Trevor Robertson reported that he was attempting to stop a vehicle that didn’t have its headlights on. After the vehicle failed to stop, Sgt. Mike Moran and another officer pursued the vehicle.
As the vehicle turned west onto East Second Street “at a high rate of speed,” Moran said the man driving the vehicle matched the description of the robbery suspect.
The suspect led police north on a high-speed chase, spinning out of control and striking patrol vehicles several times during the pursuit, before coming to a stop near East Empire Street after colliding with the push bumper of officer Jason Giacchino’s patrol car.
While being arrested, Aprahamian reportedly told officers he had “dope on me.” Police said he carried a small blue bag containing a “white crystalline substance,” which later was confirmed to be methamphetamine.
At first, Aprahamian denied knowledge of a robbery, then told Fletcher he “was in a dire financial situation and needed money,” the incident report said. He said he stole the car when he found it unlocked with a spare key inside.
Aprahamian had evaded police three separate times in the past.
Because of an active restraining order, Aprahamian is not permitted to possess firearms or other weapons, but was found in possession of the knife allegedly used in the robbery of Begley.
After being taken to the county jail, Aprahamian was charged with a felony for aggravated robbery as well as vehicular eluding, first-degree motor vehicle theft, reckless endangerment, DUI, aggravated HTO, protection order violation, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, obstruction, first-degree criminal trespass, failure to display lamps when required, operating a vehicle when the seat belt was not securely fastened and failing to drive in a designated lane.
He is scheduled to appear in Montezuma County District Court on Oct. 12 at 9 a.m.
