Officer Involved Shooting Logan County, October 6, 2020

On the evening of October 6, 2020 at approximately 7:08 p.m., Officer 1 was on patrol in Sterling, Colorado when he contacted a vehicle in which Douglas Sanchez was a passenger. Sanchez had been involved in a shooting approximately a week prior and had an active arrest warrant for Attempted Murder. Officer 1 conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle, but upon the vehicle coming to a stop, Sanchez exited the front passenger seat and ran from the vehicle on foot. Officer 1 gave chase for several seconds before Sanchez stopped, turned, and faced the officer. Officer 1 ordered Sanchez to put his hands up. Instead, Sanchez put his hands in his pockets and began digging in his pockets. Officer 1 again told Sanchez to put his hands up or he would be shot. Despite these clear, repeated, unambiguous commands, Sanchez pulled a knife out of his pocket and lunged towards Officer 1, in an attempt to attack him with the knife. Officer 1 fired two shots from his department issued handgun, both striking Sanchez in the torso and causing Sanchez to fall to the ground. Sanchez had covered half the distance between himself and Officer 1 before he fell. Officers, including Officer 1, and medical personnel provided medical aid to Sanchez. Ultimately, after being transported to a Denver area hospital, Sanchez succumbed to his wounds and passed away.

After investigating and reviewing the relevant facts and measuring them against the law, it was determined that the use of deadly force by Officer 1 was clearly justified.