Stolen car rams police cruiser, flips onto side near Palmer Park

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — A man and woman have been arrested after they allegedly rammed a police cruiser with a stolen car before flipping the stolen car and damaging a Colorado Springs Utilities (Springs Utilities) gas meter.

According to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD), around 2:15 p.m. on Monday, July 29, officers located a stolen car driving in the area of North Carefree Circle and Van Teylingen Drive, just east of Palmer Park. When officers tried to contact the two people in the car, the driver put the car in reverse and rammed a marked CSPD patrol car that was directly behind the stolen car.

CSPD said the driver then drove off the road, over a curb, and up an embankment before flipping the stolen car onto its passenger side. Officers tried once again to contact the people in the car, at which point the man who had been driving the car became “uncooperative” and an officer tried to tase the man twice. However, CSPD said the taser was ineffective.

The man then ran across North Academy Boulevard to a shopping center where he tried to hide in a bush. He was quickly located and taken into custody, CSPD said.

The woman in the stolen car had initially been driving when officers first saw it, but she and the man had switched places inside the car before ramming the police car. The woman was taken into custody without incident after the car flipped onto its side.

CSPD said Springs Utilities responded to the scene due to the stolen car having hit a gas meter and gas riser when it flipped. Springs Utilities was on the scene for several hours working on repairs, CSPD said.

The man who was driving at the time of the crash has been identified as 36-year-old Isaac Gallegos. He faces multiple charges including Motor Vehicle Theft, Second Degree Assault on a Peace Officer, Vehicular Eluding, Obstruction, Criminal Mischief, Traffic Offences, and Possession of Narcotics. He also had an outstanding warrant for Parole Violation.

The woman was identified as 32-year-old Leah Barnett. She has been charged with Motor Vehicle Theft.

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