Former sheriff arrested, accused of stalking

JEFFERSON COUNTY- Former Jefferson County Sheriff Russ Cook was arrested Monday afternoon over accusations of stalking.

A sheriff's office spokeswoman says law enforcement in Colorado Springs asked Jefferson County deputies to make the arrest.

The arrest warrant was issued in Colorado Springs, but Cook lives in Jefferson County. He is being held in the Arapahoe County Jail because authorities wanted to avoid putting him in the Jefferson County Jail. He is awaiting a transfer to the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center.

Colorado Springs police say Cook is accused of stalking his former girlfriend.

Police went to her home on Jan. 18 and learned that Cook had allegedly violated a restraining order.

Cook was sheriff in Jefferson County for six months in 2003. He resigned after dropping out of an alcohol treatment program.

Before becoming sheriff, Cook was the chief of police in Golden.