Colorado man accused of nearly running over deputy before high-speed chase and barn standoff

BERTHOUD, Colo. (KKTV) – A man is facing a long list of charges after he allegedly led law enforcement on a high-speed chase before barricading himself in a barn.

The situation began just after 3 a.m. Wednesday in Loveland when a car sped past a Larimer County sheriff's deputy who was in the middle of a traffic stop. The driver narrowly missed hitting the deputy.

A Loveland police officer attempted to stop the car but backed away as a precaution because the suspect was driving recklessly.

Ninety minutes later the car was spotted in another part of the city. A police officer attempted to stop the car, but the suspect refused to stop, turned off his headlights and sped away. This time law enforcement followed.

“Law enforcement pursued the suspect as he drove at speeds in excess of 110 miles per hour on Highway 402 and southbound on I-25. The Buick turned onto Highway 56 in Berthoud and entered a park-and-ride lot where it struck an LCSO cruiser,” the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office said. “[The suspect] continued to flee and drove the wrong way onto I-25 (southbound onto the northbound exit).”

The officers then deliberately collided with the car to prevent the chase, which became increasingly dangerous. The Buick crashed, but the sheriff's office said the suspect jumped out and ran across a field.

“Officers began searching the area and discovered the suspect barricaded himself in a barn. The LCSO All-Hazards/Crisis Response Team responded to help resolve the situation safely. They used a drone as part of the search effort and located the location [the suspect] “I hid inside,” the sheriff’s office said.

Shortly before 10 a.m., after a standoff that lasted more than five hours, the suspect finally exited the barn and surrendered. He is currently facing a number of felony charges including vehicular eluding, attempted vehicular assault, obstructing a police officer, speeding in excess of 40 miles per hour and resisting arrest. He was identified as 20-year-old Terrick Wilkins.

“This suspect was inches away from taking our deputy’s life and then endangered our community by driving recklessly to get away. “This complete disregard for public safety is unacceptable,” said LCSO Undersheriff Joe Shellhammer. “I am extremely relieved that no one was injured today. Perpetrators must be held accountable for their actions, otherwise this cycle of danger will simply continue.”

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