Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
A Colorado man “intentionally” crashed his truck into the front doors of a police station after claiming people were “following” himthe police reported.
Nathan David Chacon, 45, crashed his 2007 Chevrolet Silverado through glass doors and into the lobby of the Grand Junction police station, stopping at a counter around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, footage released by the department shows.
There were 11 employees working in offices behind the counter at the time, according to Chacón’s affidavit. No one was hurt.
The Officers ran into the lobby with guns drawn and ordered Chacón to get out of the car, video shows.. They forced him to lie on the ground before being taken into custody without incident.
Not he required medical attention and was placed in a holding cell where he voluntarily spoke to police.
According to the affidavit, andhe department has received at least 90 calls from Chacón in recent years, during which he reported “strange occurrences that have been unfounded.”
He had called the police several times in the days before the accident and would curse officers over the phone and then hang up in frustration, according to the arrest affidavit. It is not clear what he had informed them.
Chacón told police that on Thursday morning he was being “chased” by several vehicles as he left the city, forcing him to take side steps to avoid his pursuers.
Video from outside the police department shows the full-size van pulling into the parking lot before making a sharp left through the front doors without hesitation.
He told police that when he pulled into the parking lot he “didn’t want to get killed, so he chose to drive into the lobby.” He told the officer that he knew it was a “dumb” idea, but he felt he had to do it “to be heard.”
Chacon was arrested and charged with attempted murder, attempted assault, attempted vehicular assault, criminal mischief, and reckless endangerment.
Damage to the lobby, front doors and bullet-proof window panes is estimated at more than $100,000, but less than $1,000,000, police said.
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