Stolen Vehicle Pursued Through Multiple Valley Towns… Suspects Arrested

From Center Police Chief Dale Meek;

At about 6am this morning, Officer Adam Fresquez and I were notified of a vehicle pursuit coming toward the Town of Center. It turns out that a victim living in South Fork observed his Jeep being stolen at this house. The victim began chasing the thieves in a different vehicle. The suspects, later identified as Zachary Wymer (25 years) and Jimmy Gollihugh Jr (44 years), were in separate vehicles as one was in the victim’s Jeep and the other in a Ford F150. The victim chased the vehicles through Del Norte and down Hwy 112 until they turned north on about County Road 43. The suspects continued through the La Garita area until the victim’s vehicle wrecked a few miles north of town. The suspects entered into Jimmy Gollihugh’s white F150 and crossed over US 285 going into the Russell Lakes State Wildlife area.

A Colorado State Patrol Officer who responded and Officer Fresquez were able to observe the vehicle on the dirt roads as it turned south on CR 50. I do not live far from CR 50 and went to the intersection with CR G. The F150, with Jimmy Gollihugh driving, struck some stop sticks (tire deflation devices) I placed in the roadway as they blew through a stop sign at CR 50 and CR G going 85 mph on the dirt farm roads. I engaged in a vehicle pursuit, chasing the F150 up and down the farm roads until it started on CR G toward State Road 17. The front tire went flat and began fragmenting as the suspects continued to run from law enforcement. The suspects turned up CR 59 and traveled north, going back onto preserve land where they wrecked. The truck attempted to flee across fields but without the front tire, the rim almost entirely gone and damage from the wreck, the F150 became stuck in the sand.

Saguache County Deputy, Cpl Hansen had also been called out from his residence and responded to the area of County Road 59 as the F150 went off road. Between CSP, Cpl Hansen and I, we were able to locate and arrest Wymer and Gollihugh as they ran about ½ mile north through the Wildlife area. Recovered with the F150 and off the suspects’ themselves were a gun magazine, holsters, ammunition, multiple burglary tools, a stolen license plate and some drugs. At the time of this report, Officers are still searching the ½ mile area between the truck and area of apprehension for the missing guns.

Rio Grande County Sheriff’s Office will be handling charges for the vehicle theft and a possible attempted assault with a deadly weapon on the vehicle owner. Charges from Center will be:

Jimmy Gollihugh Jr:

·         CRS 42-4-1401 Reckless Driving

·         CRS 18-9-116.5 Vehicular Eluding

·         CRS 18-12-108 Possession of Weapons by Previous Offenders

·         CRS 18-4-205 Possession of Burglary Tools and

·         CRS 42-5-104 Theft of Motor Vehicle Parts (License Plate)

Jimmy is also out on Parole and will have a potential Parole Violation.

Zachary Wymer:

·         CRS 18-2-201 Conspiracy

·         CRS 18-9-116.5 Vehicular Eluding – related to the conspiracy

·         CRS 18-12-108 Possession of Weapons by Previous Offenders

·         CRS 18-4-205 Possession of Burglary Tools

·         CRS 18-18-403.5 Possession of a Controlled Substance- fentanyl  

·         CRS 42-5-104 Theft of Motor Vehicle Parts (License Plate)

Zachary is also out on Parole and will also have a potential Parole Violation.

Folks, this is yet another great example of law enforcement teamwork. Multiple agencies working together (Saguache County Sheriff’s Office, Rio Grande County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado State Patrol and Center Police), even when not on technically “on duty” to apprehend suspects who have lengthy criminal histories and will undoubtedly steal more from our residents. The suspects were apparently prepared with the tools to do similar crimes and were also apparently armed with guns so they would not be stopped. The victim in this case is thankfully, unharmed. He will be without the use of one vehicle but the suspects are in jail.