Greeley Officers Recover Stolen Merchandise, Arrest Felony Eluding Suspect
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE # 26G013178**
Kristen Duus, PIO
Greeley Police Department
970.350.9605 (office)
Kristen.duus@greeleypd.com
Greeley Officers Recover Stolen Merchandise, Arrest Felony Eluding Suspect
GREELEY, Colo. – On Tuesday, September 15, at approximately 7:35 p.m., Greeley Police officers responded to a theft in progress at Best Buy in Centerplace.
According to preliminary investigation, two suspects fled the store in a Chevrolet Malibu after stealing multiple gaming devices. Officers with the Special Enforcement Team (SET) located the vehicle with fictious license plates in Evans. While conducting surveillance, officers observed a Ford F-150, also with fictitious license plates, parked next to the Malibu.
A passenger matching the description of one of the suspects exited the truck. Assisted by Real Time Information Center Drones, officers attempted to pull over the F-150, which immediately eluded police. Officers relocated the vehicle in the 5600 block of Highway 34 and successfully deployed a grapple system to safely disable the truck.
The driver, identified as 34-year-old Javier Barraza, exited the truck and fled on foot across Highway 34 into a nearby apartment complex. Following an extensive foot chase, officers apprehended Barraza near 29th Street.
A search of the truck yielded thousands of dollars in recovered stolen property, including merchandise stolen from Best Buy.
Barraza was booked into the Weld County Jail on charges including felony eluding, reckless driving, driving under a suspended license, along with multiple related offenses. Additional charges are pending following further investigation.
Anyone who has information on this case is urged to contact Officer Daniel Trujillo at Daniel.Trujillo@greeleypd.com. This is an ongoing investigation, and all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No further details will be released today.