A multi-county, high-speed chase concluded with a “tactical vehicle intervention” and a pair of arrests, according to a news release from the Grand County Sheriff’s Office.

At 10:49 p.m. Sept. 10, the Grand County Communications Center was contacted by the Routt County Communications Center regarding to a vehicle that was heading eastbound from the Steamboat Springs area and had failed to stop for Routt County law enforcement. It was further reported that the vehicle was weaving, driving without lights and traveling at a high rate of speed.

At 11:31 p.m., Grand County Sheriff’s Office deputies located the vehicle on U.S. Highway 40 near mile marker 176 west of Kremmling and based on the information provided by Routt County, attempted an additional traffic stop of the vehicle. According to the sheriff’s office, the driver of the vehicle failed to comply and accelerated, and a pursuit initiated eastbound on Highway 40.

The vehicle entered Kremmling and then turned southbound on Colorado Highway 9. The Grand County Sheriff’s Office was able to deploy tire-deflation devices on Highway 9 at County Road 33 in an attempt to slow the vehicle’s movement. However, the vehicle continued southbound, reaching speeds of approximately 100 miles per hour, while continuing to move forward on one of the tire rims. As the vehicle continued southbound, the vehicle drove in the northbound lanes on multiple occasions while vehicle headlights were turned on and off, according to the sheriff’s office. 

Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted other intervention techniques as the vehicle continued on Highway 9. Deputies, however, were met with resistance from the driver of the suspect vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office. Summit County law enforcement was advised of the pursuit.

On Highway 9, just south of the junction with I-70, the driver slowed and Grand County deputies were able to initiate a “tactical vehicle intervention” and safely take the driver and passenger into custody. Both individuals were evaluated by Summit Fire and EMS. The driver was transported to Summit Medical Center for pre-existing injuries and later transported to the Grand County Jail. 

The driver, Samuel Rapisardo, 29, of Denver, and passenger Jessica Peters, 40, of Colorado Springs, were booked into the Grand County Jail. 

Rapisardo was booked for violations of Colorado Revised Statute 18-18-116.5 Vehicular Eluding (Felony); CRS 18-3-203 Criminal Attempt-2nd Degree Assault on a Peace Officer (Felony); CRS 18-18-403.5 Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance (Fentanyl) (Felony); CRS 18-18-403.5 Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine)(Felony); CRS 18-40-409 Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft (Felony); CRS 18-3-208 Reckless Endangerment; CRS 18-3-208 Reckless Endangerment; CRS 18-8-610 Tampering with Evidence; CRS 42-2-206 Drove Vehicle as a Habitual Traffic Offender; CRS 42-4-1401 Reckless Driving; CRS 42-4-1101 Speeding; CRS 42-4-1406 Foreign Matter on Highway (Littering); CRS 42-4-1409 Operating Uninsured Motor Vehicle; CRS 42-3-121 Registration Violation; and CRS 18-18-428 Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Peters was booked into Grand County Jail on violations of Colorado Revised Statute (CRS) 18-18-403.5 Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Fentanyl) (Felony); CRS 18-18-403.5 Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine)(Felony); CRS 18-6-803.5 Violation of a Protection Order; CRS 18-8-610 Tampering with Evidence; CRS 42-4-1406 Foreign Matter on Roadway (Littering); and CRS 18-18-428 Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

“Once again, a driver’s decision to not simply pull over when being contacted by law enforcement has resulted in another vehicle pursuit where they ultimately put others at risk,” Grand County Sheriff Brett Schroetlin said in a news release. “It is imperative that we as law enforcement, the judicial system and the community continue to hold those individuals accountable for their actions.”