Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man after he drove over a deputy’s legs, leading authorities on a short chase, according to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities received a call about an unwanted person at a residence about 6:20 p.m. on Feb. 7, according to a news release. The location was near East Cresthill Avenue and South Saint Paul Way, not far from University Boulevard and Arapahoe Road in west Centennial.
The suspect, Yuri Dudik, 32, was a guest in the house and had been asked to leave several times but did not want to go, the news release said. He then exited the house.
Deputies arrived and walked up to the house to contact the residents, and then a vehicle started up, turned toward a deputy standing on the lawn and struck the deputy, according to the news release.
After the deputy was knocked down, the vehicle’s wheel ran over his legs, according to Deputy John Bartmann, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office. The suspect then drove off.
Other deputies arriving on the scene attempted to stop the vehicle, and a short chase ensued, seeing Dudik go about a block and a half, Bartmann said.
Deputies attempted a “pursuit termination technique” several times and eventually stopped the vehicle, the release said. The suspect drove into a tree, according to Bartmann.
Dudik struck at deputies using a fishing hook, and two deputies sustained “very minor injuries” from the hook, Bartmann said. Dudik was then taken into custody.
All the deputies involved are in good condition, Bartmann said on Feb. 8. The deputy who was run over was taken to an area hospital, where he was treated and released with only minor injuries, possibly because the grass he was on gave way, Bartmann said.
Dudik was taken to a hospital, treated and then transported to jail. His injuries were minor from the crash. He was also hit by a Taser twice, and part of his transport was to have the Taser probes removed, Bartmann said.
Dudik was booked into the Arapahoe County jail on the following charges:
• Assault in the first degree on a police officer
• Assault in the second degree on a police officer
• First-degree burglary
• Vehicular eluding
• Driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol
• Third-degree assault
• Resisting arrest
• Reckless driving