Law enforcement recovers 220,000 fentanyl pills following vehicle pursuit

Law enforcement recovered 220,000 pills after a vehicle pursuit along Interstate 70, according to a press release from the Mesa County Sheriff's Office.

A deputy with the Mesa County Sheriff's Office attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling eastbound on I-70 near Fruita on Friday morning. The vehicle took off when the deputy exited his car. The deputy pursued the vehicle as it continued eastbound, taking Exit 26 and then getting back on I-70 going westbound. The deputy ended the pursuit for safety reasons.

A Colorado State Patrol trooper put stop sticks on the road, but the vehicle continued down I-70 before exiting into Fruita. The vehicle continued into town but stopped near the intersection of West Pabor Avenue.

The driver briefly fled the vehicle on foot but eventually peacefully surrendered to law enforcement.

Deputies found 48 pounds of fentanyl pills (which equates to 220,000 pills) when they searched the vehicle.

The suspect is 21-year-old Levyn Angulo-Ayala. He was taken to the Mesa County Detention Facility. Angulo-Ayala is being charged with vehicular eluding, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and special offender importation.

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