09/01/2026
Tonight's excitement that led to a temporary closure of I-70. Officer Reynolds also successfully deployed Stop Sticks, bringing the suspect vehicle to a safe stop. Great teamwork by everyone involved! 🚔👏
Hit-and-Run Leads to Vehicle Pursuit and Arrest
On August 31, 2026, at approximately 5:20 p.m., Rifle Police officers were dispatched to the Maverik gas station on Taughenbaugh Blvd. for a reported two-vehicle, non-injury crash.
While officers were responding, dispatch advised that one of the vehicles involved had left the scene.
One Rifle Police officer continued to the crash scene to contact the other driver and investigate the original incident. A second officer, while responding to the area, located a vehicle matching the description of the vehicle that had reportedly left the scene.
The officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop; however, the driver failed to stop, and a vehicle pursuit ensued.
The pursuit continued westbound on Highway 6 before entering westbound Interstate 70. Deputies with the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office and Officers from the Parachute Police Department, were able to get ahead of the pursuit and deploy stop sticks near the 76-mile marker. The stop sticks were successfully deployed.
The vehicle ultimately came to a stop off the roadway on the north side of Interstate 70 near Mile Marker 73.
Rifle Police officers and Garfield County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a high-risk vehicle stop, and one adult male was taken into custody without further incident.
Joshua Velazquez, 21, of Rifle, was transported to the Garfield County Jail on the following charges:
• CRS 18-3-302(1)(I): 2nd Degree, Kidnapping, Felony 4
• CRS 18-9-116.5: Eluding, Felony 5
• CRS 18-9-303(1): False Imprisonment, Misdemeanor 2
• CRS 18-3-208: Reckless Endangerment, Misdemeanor 2
• CRS 18-6-701(1)(b): Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, Misdemeanor 2
• CRS 42-4-1301(1)(a): Driving Under the Influence, Misdemeanor 2
• CRS 42-4-1101(1): Speeding (25-39 Over in Construction Zone), Traffic Misdemeanor 2
• CRS 42-4-1101(8)(b): Speeding (25-39 Over Maximum Speed Limit), Traffic Misdemeanor 2
• CRS 42-4-1602(1): Failed to Give Information After Accident, Traffic Misdemeanor 2
• CRS 42-2-206(1)(a): Drove Vehicle Revoked as Habitual Offender, Traffic Misdemeanor 2
• CRS 42-4-1606(1): Failed to Notify Police of Accident, Traffic Misdemeanor 2
• CRS 42-4-1401: Reckless Driving, Traffic Misdemeanor 2
• CRS 42-4-1402(2)(a): Carless Driving, Traffic Misdemeanor 2
• CRS 42-4-903: Failed to Signal, Traffic Infraction A
• CRS 42-4-1007(1)(a): Failed to Drive in Single Lane, Traffic Infraction A
• CRS 42-4-1010(1): Drove on Wrong Side of Divided Highway, Traffic Infraction A
• CRS 42-4-1305(2)(a): Open Alcoholic Beverage Container, Traffic Infraction A
• CRS 18-6-800.3: Domestic Violence, Enhancer
The Rifle Police Department would like to thank the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office and Parachute Police Department for their assistance with this incident. The successful coordination between multiple agencies helped bring the pursuit to a safe conclusion and the suspect into custody without further incident.
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No further information will be released on this arrest. All suspects are considered innocent until adjudicated guilty in a court of law.
