Colorado police officer dies after falling from bridge chasing stolen car suspects

Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY
·2 min read
21

A Colorado police officer died over the weekend after he was critically injured when he fell from a 40-foot bridge while pursuing suspects in a carjacking earlier this month, police said.

Fountain City Police Officer Julian Becerra was pronounced dead Saturday at Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs, officials said. Becerra, who was 35, worked in the patrol division as a K9 officer. Fountain City is about 15 miles south of Colorado Springs.

Becerra, a four-and-a-half year veteran with the department, previously served in the U.S. Air Force. He is survived by his wife and two children.

According to a news release from the police department, the officer fell from an overpass while trying to catch a carjacking suspect on Feb. 2. After he was hospitalized, he had been on life support prior to his death.

Fountain City Police Officer Julian Becerra died on February 11, 2023 night in Colorado Springs. Becerra, who was 35, worked in the patrol division as a K9 officer. Becerra, a four-and-a-half year veteran with the department is survived by his wife and two children.
Fountain City Police Officer Julian Becerra died on February 11, 2023 night in Colorado Springs. Becerra, who was 35, worked in the patrol division as a K9 officer. Becerra, a four-and-a-half year veteran with the department is survived by his wife and two children.

Officers had been asked to help the Department of Corrections find a carjacking suspect from Pueblo, about 30 miles south of the city around 4 p.m. the day of the fall.

"We appreciate the public's outpouring of support over the past week for Officer Becerra, his family and the Fountain Police Department," police spokesperson Lisa Schneider posted in a statement on social media. "This is an evolving process, and the family is requesting privacy while they navigate the difficult task of planning for Julian’s final rest."

The pursuit unfolded over several hours eventually leading to a foot chase between one carjacking suspect and officers near the intersection of Interstate 25, police said.

The driver and two passengers in the stolen car were arrested on warrants and on suspicion of felonies that occurred during the pursuit, officials said.

The El Paso County Sheriff's Office, the lead agency investigating the case, identified the suspects in the case as Devon Bobian, Danisha Pacheco and Anthony Vallejos.

The driver had tried to jump off the bridge, but officers caught him, pulled him to safety and took him into custody, the sheriff's office said.

Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fountain City Colorado police officer dies in fall from bridge, chase