COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — A driver pulled over Tuesday morning near a construction site in Commerce City saying she had been attacked by her passenger, and workers at the site stepped in to assist until officers arrived, according to police.
The disturbance happened near the intersection of Second Creek Plaza Drive and Tower Road in Commerce City. After the driver pulled over, workers at the construction site, whom the Commerce City Police Department described as good Samaritans, stepped in to detain her passenger.
Ashton Miller said the driver had been doused in gasoline and was screaming for help.
“I didn't understand that she had gas on her at the time, but I did understand that he was trying to light her on fire,” Miller said.
Miller is an independent mobile mechanic. He was called out to the construction site to work on some equipment.
“Then the silver Lexus pulled in," Miller said. "The lady in the front driver seat opened the door yelling, ‘Help, he's trying to kidnap me. Help me.’”
Miller said a man was sitting in the passenger seat trying to pull the woman back into the vehicle. When that failed, Miller said the man got out of the car and went after the woman again.
“He had a hold of her jacket, and then he had a lighter in his left hand and was attempting to strike it,” Miller said. “She was yelling, ‘Don't let him near me. I've got gas all over me. He poured gas on me.’”
Miller said his instincts kicked in and he quickly intervened. “I got in between him and her, and he had a cordless razor,” he said. “I didn't know what it was. All I saw was a shiny edge. At first, I thought that was a straight edge or a box cutter.”
Miller has a concealed handgun permit and keeps a gun on him for safety. Miller said the suspect’s actions had him fearing for his own life, so he drew his weapon.
“Once he realized that I had a firearm, he started to listen and calmed down,” Miller said. “He laid down on the ground and I had the site foreman grab handcuffs out of my truck so we could handcuff him.”
Miller used to be a security guard. He said he keeps the handcuffs in a medical bag just in case.
“That's where she was laying on the ground,” Miller said, pointing. “Those dark spots are from the gasoline. For safety purposes, I had her go and lay on the ground too, because I didn't really know what was going on and waited for the cops to show up.”
Miller wonders what could've happened if he didn't act quickly.
“I think he would have probably hurt her, I really do,” Miller said. “I think that was his intent.”
Police closed Tower Road at Second Creek Plaza Drive while they investigated. The area is now back open.
The suspect was taken into custody, police said.
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