Fugitive on CR 87

It was Saturday night, Dec 30th, about 5 pm when I heard the sirens pass by in front of the house. I didn't really think much about it until 2o minutes later Julie called concerned. She told me that a fugitive was running from the police and had been chased 25 miles from Fort Morgan. He turned down County Road 87 and ditched his truck in a snow bank about 2 miles from our house. He escaped on foot and the police thought he was headed back toward the highway (in my direction).

You might know that I was home alone, Hank gone to a neighbors sledding, and Henry working on a truck with a bad U-Joint. I locked all the doors and began watching for movement out the windows. Darkness came quickly and Henry called asking if he should go get Hank. I asked him instead to come get ME! He hadn't heard what was happening but before he could get to the house, he was asked to help tow some trucks out of the snow. I was thankful when he arrived and joined him on the tractor pull adventure where we could hear the radio broadcast of the search adventure.

A group with tracking dogs were brought in and we listened as they tracked his movement around the ranch, across the river and through the irrigation ditches. Lodges and homes were searched for hiding places, the police were moving about with search lights and the air was tense.

Henry and I came back to the house after pulling Joe's truck from the snow and returning the big John Deer 8220 tractor to it's spot. We cautiously entered the sliding back door and I noticed that the TV where I was watching a movie was off!! Henry grabbed a mop handle and quickly searched the house, under the beds, in the closets, and behind the doors. He gave me the "all clear" sign but my nerves didn't let me relax much.

Uncertain of our next step, we decided to drive the 5 miles to get Hank so we'd at least be all together. On the way, we heard over the 2-way radio, that the fugitive had been caught. YEAH!

Turns out that this Hispanic fellow was a multiple offender running from a certain prison term. He was out in the snow and zero degree temp with only tennis shoes and a sweater and jeans. He was a pretty cold young man and I think , glad to have been caught and put into a warm patrol car!

This unexpected excitment goes right along with a blizzard!