At approximately 8:30AM today (7/19/2022), Officers with the Arvada Police Department (APD) attempted to contact two individuals inside a vehicle, located in the 6900 block of Sheridan Blvd. Information released by APD indicates that at the time, the vehicle was stopped and off. The driver, later identified by jail records as 18-year-old Azriel Bennett, then started the vehicle and drove away, striking the APD patrol vehicle. Bennett then fled in the vehicle southbound on Sheridan Blvd. Police advised patrol officers were not pursing Bennett who then crashed into a Ford SUV near 65^th and Sheridan. At the time of the crash, the Ford SUV was occupied by a female driver and the driver’s unknown aged daughter. The impact to the Ford SUV resulted in the Ford SUV rolling over and the suspect vehicle being driven by Bennett to be immobilized.

Bennett and the 15-year-old female passenger then fled the scene on foot but were arrested a few blocks away by law enforcement. Further investigation revealed the vehicle driven by Bennett was stolen out of Thornton.  Sheridan Blvd remained closed until approximately 9:30AM, as police completed their on scene investigation.

Jefferson County jail records show Bennett is currently in custody for the below charges and is scheduled for his first court appearance tomorrow (7/26/2022) at 10:00AM.

• Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft
• Vehicular Eluding
• Reckless Endangerment
• Hit and Run
• Driving Uninsured Motor Vehicle
• Driving without a Valid License

Photograph courtesy of the Arvada Police Department.

Update: 7/20/2022 @ 10:45AM - Bennett to be released from custody

Bennett appeared in court virtually from the Jefferson County Jail. During the initial hearing, a member of the 1^st Judicial District Attorney’s (DA)Office summarized that Bennet was in a stolen vehicle, rammed a police officer’s vehicle, and then drove the wrong way down the road before striking the vehicle of two community members. Based on Bennett’s age and minimal prior offenses, the DA’s Office recommended Bennett be released from jail on a personal recognizance (PR) bond.

Per the JCSO website, a PR bond is a signature bond involving no money or property as long as the individual appears at all future court dates. Individuals will be released on their own signature, which acts as a promise to appear in court.

Judge K.J. Moore agreed with the DA’s office and ordered that Bennett to be released from jail on a PR bond with the following additional conditions:

• No drugs or alcohol
• No weapons
• No driving with out a valid drivers license and insurance
• Must attend school when school is back in session in the fall

Bennett is scheduled for his next court hearing on July 26^th at 10:00AM.

Jefferson County Jail records indicated that as of this afternoon Bennett was no longer in custody.