June 3, 2005

Contact: Lynn Kimbrough, 720-913-9025 

 TWO CHARGED WITH SHOOTING AT POLICE

Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey has charged two young men with formal charges after they allegedly fired at a Denver police officer while driving on I-25 last weekend.

16-year-old Joshua Bowers (DOB: 02-04-89) is charged as an adult with first-degree assault on a peace officer (F3), first-degree aggravated motor vehicle theft (F4) and vehicular eluding (F5).

21-year-old Danual Vantuinen (DOB: 04-29-84) is charged with first-degree assault on a peace officer (F3), first-degree aggravated motor vehicle theft (F4), possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute (F3), possession of a controlled substance (F4), and possession of a dangerous weapon (F5).

The charges allege that Bowers was driving a stolen vehicle on I-25 in Denver at about 8 a.m. on May 30, 2005 when a Denver police officer tried to pull the vehicle over for a traffic stop.  The charges further allege that Bowers sped away and that Vantuinen fired a shortened shotgun at the officer on two separate occasions as they fled.  The vehicle was found abandoned a short time later near 32^nd and Teller Street in Wheat Ridge, and Bowers and Vantuinen were taken into custody nearby at 32^nd and Salisbury Street.

Both defendants are in custody in the Denver County Jail.  Bond has been set at $50,000.  They are scheduled to appear in Denver District Court, division 17, on June 13, 2005 at 8:30 a.m. for advisement.

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