GLENDALE, Colo. — Police in Glendale say they are searching for the driver of a gold minivan who allegedly struck an officer while fleeing from police early Friday morning.
On Friday at 2:18 a.m., an officer with the Glendale Police Department contacted a person inside a gold Chrysler Town and Country minivan. The car was backed into a parking space in a hotel parking lot, located at 4850 Leetsdale Drive, with the reverse lights still on. The officer saw four people inside the car and noticed the driver was slumped over the steering wheel, as if he was asleep or passed out, police said. His foot was on the brake.
The officer positioned his patrol car in front of the minivan to prevent the driver from driving away should he wake up and try to flee. He then called for other officers to assist him and try to wake up the driver.
The driver was initially unresponsive, but the officer was able to open his door.
Police said the driver appeared to be "heavily intoxicated and refused to follow instructions" to put the minivan in park. The driver then looked away from the officer, put the car in drive and accelerated quickly. He turned southbound, struck two patrol cars and fled.
In the process, the officer was struck by the driver's rear side of the car when it turned, police said.
He was transported to a hospital via ambulance with injuries that were not life threatening. He was released several hours later, police said.
Police are now asking for the public's help locating the minivan and suspect. The car has Idaho license plate number K57-1711.
Anybody who sees this car or knows the suspect's identification or whereabouts is asked to call 911 or the Glendale Police Department at 303-759-4322.