July 8, 2024
Kent Keller, PIO
Greeley Police Department
970.351.5387 Cell
[email protected]
GREELEY, Colo. – On Sunday, July 7, 2024, 5:42 PM a Greeley resident reported the aggravated theft of their red 1998 Dodge 1500 pickup from the area of 24th Avenue and 29th Street. During the vehicle theft, the victim attempted to stop the suspect and was subsequently drug by the suspect with the victim’s own vehicle. The victim sustained serious, but non-life-threatening injuries from the vehicle theft and was treated by medical personnel.
Hours later, at approximately 9:50 PM, a Greeley Police Officer on routine patrol observed the stolen truck being driven near 8th Avenue and 22nd Street. The officer immediately recognized the lone occupant and driver as Jose Sambrano, 33, and the truck from the BOLO (Be On the Lookout) sent earlier. The officer initiated a traffic stop on the stolen vehicle and Sambrano immediately began fleeing from the officer.
Seconds later, Sambrano failed to stop at a red light at 8th Avenue and 20th Street and at a high rate of speed collided with an uninvolved Cadillac SUV traveling on 20th Street. The SUV was occupied by one adult male, one adult female, and one female child. Officers immediately rendered aid to the victims in the SUV, while additional officers arriving took Sambrano into custody and rendered medial aid to him.
Multiple ambulances were summoned to the scene for all involved. Two occupants of the SUV sustained moderate injuries and one occupant of the SUV sustained minor injuries. Sambrano sustained serious injuries as a result of the collision and is currently in the intensive care unit of a local hospital. The roadway on 8th Avenue was shut down, from 18th Street to 22nd Street, from the time of the accident until approximately 2:00 am while the investigation and clean up took place.
The investigation later revealed that moments prior to the officer initiating the traffic stop on Sambrano in the stolen vehicle, Sambrano had just committed a residential burglary at a home in the 2200 block of 8th Avenue that had not yet been reported to police. That homeowner, who did not know Sambrano, was home during the burglary and thankfully unharmed.
Upon his release from the hospital, Jose Sambrano will be arrested, transported to the Weld County Jail, and charged with 1st Degree Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft, Vehicular Assault, Reckless Endangerment, Driving Under Restraint as a Habitual Traffic Offender, Reckless Driving, 2nd Degree Burglary, Theft, Criminal Possession of an Identification Document.
The Greeley Police Department Traffic Unit is leading the investigation due to the serious nature of the injuries sustained by the occupants. We will release additional information when appropriate. If you witnessed this collision and have not spoken with officers, please contact Officer Wegscheider at (970) 350-9605.
Mugshot of suspect, Jose Sambrano (23)