Three defendants in Monday's Boulder bank robbery identified
Jun. 15—The Boulder County Sheriff's Office has identified three suspects tied to a bank robbery in Boulder on Monday.
Britne Schneider, 25, Ashley Cooper, 33, and Leo Benavidez, 34, were arrested by Louisville police Monday after allegedly robbing U.S. Bank on 1650 28th St. in Boulder.
According to their affidavits, the three suspects were driving a stolen 2019 Jeep Cherokee which had been tied to the Boulder bank robbery and a strong-arm robbery in Lafayette Monday afternoon.
The Jeep's Colorado license plate was picked up by a camera, alerting police. As the car traveled southbound on McCaslin Boulevard, police followed. It made a U-turn near Rock Creek Parkway in Superior and took off at a high rate of speed, hitting 94 mph in a 40 mph zone, according to the affidavit.
In a later review of the patrol car camera footage, Schneider was determined to be the driver of the Jeep. Schneider was later found to have a driver's license under restraint at the time of the high-speed chase.
Police reported that Schneider "recklessly maneuvered," ran red lights and failed to yield for several minutes before turning west into the Enclave neighborhood. At the 1100 block of McCaslin Boulevard, Schneider crashed the Jeep through a fence and the three suspects got out of the car and ran.
Schneider ran up a hill toward the Spanish Hills neighborhood in Boulder County and hid behind a flowerbed, according to the affidavit. Schneider refused to surrender as the officer held her at gunpoint before finally complying and surrendering to the officers.
Cooper ran toward an occupied residence and did not comply when ordered to stop, according to the affidavit. She ran into the residence through a sliding door and shut the door preventing an officer from following her. Once the officer was able to get inside, Cooper continued to resist and the officer deployed his stun gun on Cooper before taking her into custody.
After exiting the Jeep, Benavidez was arrested at gunpoint by Louisville police.
Schneider is facing charges including first-degree aggravated motor vehicle theft, vehicular eluding, resisting arrest, obstructing a peace officer, second-degree criminal trespass, reckless driving, speeding and driving motor vehicle with a license under restraint.
Cooper is facing charges of second-degree burglary, resisting arrest and obstructing a peace officer.
Both could be facing additional charges in connection with the alleged robberies at their formal filings Friday.
Benavidez was charged with attempted robbery, menacing, theft, reckless endangerment, third-degree assault and obstructing a peace, according to court records.
He is set for a preliminary hearing on July 31.
While Boulder County agencies participated in the investigation and arrest, the case is now under the jurisdiction of the FBI.
Both Schneider and Cooper also had active warrants out for their arrest; Schneider with five and Cooper with 16.
Benavidez also has a substantial criminal history that includes arrests for attempted murder, first-degree assault with a deadly weapon, felony menacing, weapons offenses, kidnapping, robbery, assault, burglary, escape, trespassing, criminal mischief, protection order violation, resisting arrest, obstruction, and traffic offenses according to an affidavit.
Booking photos were not immediately available.
