ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — A man who police initially encountered after responding to a report of a disturbance at an Englewood business stole a police car and led officers on a chase before he crashed the patrol car and was taken into custody, according to the Englewood Police Department (EPD).
Just before 8 p.m. Tuesday night, officers responded to the Army/Navy surplus store at 3524 S. Broadway for a disturbance. At the store, they contacted 27-year-old David Cassuto, who requested mental health services, EPD said.
As a courtesy, officers drove him to the Santa Fe House, located at 6509 S. Sante Fe Dr. Once he arrived, Cassuto said he longer required mental health services, and according to EPD, there was no evidence presented during his interaction with officers that would warrant an involuntary mental health hold for him.
Cassuto was then given a ride to the area of South Federal Boulevard and West Yale Avenue, EPD said. At that location, Cassuto exited the vehicle and somehow gained control of the marked EPD vehicle and fled northbound on South Federal Boulevard at a high rate of speed, police said.
The chase wound through Englewood and into Lakewood via busy corridors that included C-470 and US 285, according to EPD spokesperson Sgt. Chad Read.
EPD used GPD software to track the patrol car and eventually located the crashed vehicle in the area of South Zurich Court and West Warren Avenue in Denver. That's near the intersection of South Sheridan Boulevard and West Harvard Avenue in southwest Denver.
Cassuto ran from the car and was taken into custody a short time later in the 2400 block of South Sherman Boulevard, EPD said.
The EPD was damaged in the crash, however no one was hurt during the incident.
The Englewood Police vehicle received damage from the crash, however, there were no reported injuries during this incident.
EPD said Cassuto was on parole at the time of the incident.
Officers from Denver and Lakewood were involved in the response.
The pursuit happened while the entire state of Colorado was under a stay-at-home order due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Authorities have said traffic has decreased dramatically on area roads.
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