UPDATED 12:41 a.m. Nov. 19: After authorities issued a shelter-in-place warning for the Larkspur area amid a search for a fugitive who they said is “considered armed and dangerous,” the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office announced that the suspect was taken into custody without incident.
The Larkspur area is along the Interstate 25 corridor south of Castle Rock.
“Deputies and a citizen located the suspect hiding in a barn on private property in the Larkspur area,” the Douglas sheriff’s office said at about 10 a.m. Nov. 18 in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
The shelter-in-place warning had been lifted earlier, but authorities were asking residents to remain vigilant, Deborah Takahara, spokesperson for the Douglas sheriff’s office, said on the evening of Nov. 17.
“DCSO deputies will remain in the area and will continue to follow all leads. Call 911 immediately if you see him. Please remain vigilant and keep your homes and vehicles locked,” the sheriff’s office had said in a social media post.
The Douglas sheriff’s office had announced on X at about 2:30 p.m. Nov. 17 that deputies and the Douglas County Regional SWAT team were “actively searching” for Luis Fernando Cerda-Regaldo, who is wanted for escaping from Weld County.
Cerda-Regaldo was arrested by the Weld County Sheriff’s Office Nov. 15 on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, obstruction and attempt to influence law enforcement, according to a Weld news release.
Initially, the Douglas sheriff’s office said he was last seen wearing a black and red checkered jacket, blue jeans and a dark-colored baseball cap.
The Douglas sheriff’s office then put out an updated description, saying he was last seen wearing black pants, a black shirt with cutoff sleeves and a black baseball cap.
Cerda-Regaldo is 27 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall and about 200 pounds, with brown eyes, black hair and a short beard, according to the Weld news release. Cerda-Regaldo also has a tattoo, with unknown design, on his right arm, according to the release.
“If you see him, do not approach. Call 911,” the Douglas sheriff’s office said in a social media post.
The shelter-in-place notification went out to 415 contacts, Takahara said.
The area for the shelter-in-place notification is bounded by Spruce Mountain Road on the east, Noe Road on the south, state Highway 105 on the west and Perry Park Avenue on the north, Takahara said.
As of about 4 p.m. Nov. 17, authorities had secured and searched 1 square mile, Takahara said.
Authorities “have evidence that leads them to believe he’s armed and dangerous,” Takahara said.
A man who authorities say matches Cerda-Regaldo’s description was spotted getting out of a stolen vehicle at I-25 and Spruce Mountain Road, Takahara said.
On Nov. 15, Cerda-Regaldo was arrested and was in the custody of the Weld County Sheriff’s Office, getting medically cleared before authorities were to book him into the Weld County jail, according to the Weld news release. While at a medical center in Greeley, Cerda-Regaldo escaped police custody and left on foot, according to the release.
Clarification: The suspect’s last name was spelled in different ways in different information from law enforcement. The spelling in the story has been updated.