| Derrick charged in shooting of CSP Patrol Tech Cutrone May 20, 2003 By Katharhynn Heidelberg
Journal Staff Writer The man suspected of shooting Colorado State Patrol Technician Chris Cutrone is now in the hands of the Montezuma County judicial system. Brent David Derrick, 26, was transported from a Denver hospital to Montezuma County Detention Center during the weekend. He now stands charged with first degree attempted murder of a peace officer, a Class 2 felony. Derrick is alleged to have shot Cutrone, 29, after the trooper pulled him over near Towaoc May 8. According to an arrest warrant and affidavit filed Monday in county court by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Cutrone had been alerted by another CSP officer to the vehicle Derrick was allegedly driving. CSP Technician Leonard Fleckenstein was conducting a traffic stop south of Towaoc, when a northbound vehicle drove by him in a manner he felt was unsafe. He alerted Cutrone and other troopers in the area.
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Cutrone encountered the vehicle, a 1996 Buick LeSabre at milepost 27, across from the Ute Mountain Casino. Cutrone provided the vehicle’s license plate to CSP dispatch; the vehicle would later come back as stolen out of Texas on April 30. The driver of the Buick allegedly fired a handgun investigators now believe to have been a Ruger .45, hitting Cutrone four times. The shooter then fled the scene in the Buick. The affidavit said Cutrone, “in considerable pain” and apparently trailing blood, ran to an area near the casino and collapsed. The first 911 call came in at approximately 2:21 p.m. Cutrone was able to tell dispatch that he had been shot in the chest, and described the vehicle, which he said was headed toward Cortez with one white male. He also relayed the information to Bureau of Indian Affairs officer, Dale Americanhorse, who arrived minutes later. A man and woman on County Road A soon reported a vehicle driven by a white male at a high rate of speed. They could not provide a clear description because they “were more focused on getting out of the vehicle’s way,” the affidavit said. County Road A leads to reservoirs on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation. The car Derrick was allegedly driving was later found in the reservoir known as First Lake, after Americanhorse noticed suspicious shoe prints nearby. The recovered vehicle matched the description of one reported stolen from an elderly woman in Amarillo, whose home Derrick is suspected of having burglarized. The female witness on Road A, whose statement was taken prior to the discovery of the car, said she had heard three quick popping sounds, similar to shots from a handgun, just before seeing the vehicle. She was an estimated one-half to three-quarters of a mile away from the casino at the time. Officers from numerous Colorado, Utah and Arizona agencies joined the BIA and CSP in search of the suspect. Shortly after 5 p.m., May 8, a Towaoc citizen told the BIA of a white male who had been approaching homes and asking to use a telephone. When BIA Officer Tallas Cantsee contacted him, the man fled into the area of Chief House Street. Cantsee pursued him, and noticed he had a handgun. When told to drop the weapon, the man instead pointed it at his head, and allegedly said, “Tell my wife I love her,” before aiming the gun at his chest and firing a single round. The man was transported to Southwest Memorial Hospital, where Cutrone had also been taken. Both men were eventually flown to St. Mary’s in Grand Junction, where Cutrone, originally listed as critical, remained in fair condition Monday. Evidence, including fingerprints and shell casings, led authorities to identify the man as Derrick. A shell casing recovered from Chief House Street matched one found at the scene of the Cutrone shooting, and a CBI firearms examiner determined both had been fired by the .45 Ruger Derrick is said to have turned on himself. Derrick was released from Denver Medical Health Center and into the custody of the Montezuma County Detention Center, where he remained Monday in lieu of a $250,000 bail. Derrick was wanted out of Randall County, Texas as a burglary suspect and for the alleged assault on a sheriff’s deputy there. Randall County officers have said they will work closely with Colorado. Further charges against Derrick are pending additional investigation. If convicted of first-degree attempted murder of a peace officer, Derrick could face between eight and 24 years in prison, and fines of up to $1 million. Aggravated circumstances can increase such a sentence. Derrick was advised of the charge in county court late Monday afternoon. District Attorney Joe Olt summarized the events leading up to the shooting. “We have a very serious flight risk and a very dangerous person in our midst,” Olt said. “The people request a $1 million bond.” After considering Olt’s statements, Judge Todd J. Plewe increased bond from $250,000 to $750,000, and advised Derrick a public defender had been assigned. Derrick’s preliminary hearing is set for 2:30 p.m., June 11. Journal Editorial Assistant Kelly Fox contributed to this report. Katharhynn Heidelberg can be reached at katedit@ cortezjournal.com. |
