Courtesy photo
Court proceedings for Kremmling man Zachary Tangney, charged with a series of crimes related to a late April high-speed pursuit that ended at Rayner’s Trailer Court in Kremmling, stalled this week after Tangney failed to appear in court.
Law enforcement became involved in a high-speed pursuit with Tangney that prompted a lockdown of public school facilities in Kremmling April 29. The incident began on Highway 40, between Parshall and Kremmling near Grand County Road 21. At approximately 3:39 p.m. that day, a Grand County sheriff’s deputy attempted to pull over Tangney’s truck for a speeding violation.
After his arrest, Tangney was released on a $25,000 bond. His first scheduled court appearance in the case was Tuesday, but Tangney failed to appear and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. Tangney’s original bond was forfeited and the court stipulated that his future bond will be set at $75,000.
According to an arrest warrant that was issued for Tangney, the vehicle initially pulled over onto the highway shoulder and came to a stop before speeding away and initiating the police pursuit that followed. A deputy initially pursued Tangney onto the premises of Colorado Timber Resources, located just north of Highway 40 at Grand County Road 21.
“The driver sped off and turned into the timber yard at a high rate of speed,” stated the arrest warrant. “The driver tore around the yard at a high rate of speed, making workers jump to get out of his way. He kept circling the lumber piles, almost striking workers and a front end loader.”
Not long after, a second deputy arrived on the scene. As the two deputies attempted to corral the vehicle in the yard at Timber Resources the driver struck one of the deputy’s patrol vehicle.
“The pickup came at me on a two track road,” stated the arrest warrant. “I tried to cut him off from going into the works again. He veered around me, striking my patrol vehicle in the left front corner.”
Tangney’s vehicle left the yard at Timber Resources after striking the patrol vehicle and headed west on Highway 40 towards Kremmling at speeds between 90 and 100 miles per hour. He continued westbound on the highway for roughly 8 miles before other law enforcement officials deployed stop strips, deflating the vehicle’s left front tire.
With one deflated tire the suspect continued traveling westbound on US 40 into Kremmling to Rayner’s Trailer Court. After reaching the trailer court the suspect exited the vehicle and entered one of the trailers in the court. According to the arrest warrant the deputy that initially attempted to stop Tangney recognized him from previous encounters. Additionally authorities confirmed the trailer the suspect entered that afternoon was Tangney’s residence.
The pursuit resulted in a brief standoff at the trailer court as authorities attempted unsuccessfully to communicate with Tangney. Law enforcement eventually left the scene without taking the suspect into custody. The following day a warrant was issued for Tangney’s arrest based on the events of April 29. A little less than a month later, on May 25, deputies from the Grand County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Kremmling Police Department took Tangney into custody at the Kum & Go convenience store in Kremmling.
Tangney was charged with eight separate counts including vehicular eluding, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, reckless driving, violation of bail bond conditions, aggravated driving after revocation prohibited and speeding. He was charged with two separate counts of vehicular eluding.