High speed chase ends with arrest at gunpoint
Special to the Daily |
EAGLE — A man rolling through Eagle County at more than 100 mph was arrested Friday when he didn’t stop with Eagle County Sheriff’s deputies chasing him, police said.
Eagle County Sheriff’s Deputy Jake Best was on Interstate 70 doing traffic patrol when Edward Tarpey, 25, sped by traveling at more than 100 mph headed west, Best said.
Shortly before that, local law enforcement had been notified that a suspect in a homicide might be rolling through Eagle County, said Jessie Mosher, public information officer with the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office.
Tarpey told deputies he was heading home to be with his family and said he was treated “fairly.”
“Thank you for the fair treatment you provided me with. I learned a great lesson,” Tarpey wrote in his statement.
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When Best set off in pursuit, Tarpey did not stop. He kept driving west on I-70, Best said.
Other law enforcement joined the chase, and Tarpey eventually pulled off I-70 at the Eagle exit.
“Any time you’re eluding police officers, there’s a reason to believe that you’re a danger to public safety,” Mosher said.
Deputies said they feared Tarpey might head north into Eagle’s Eby Creek Mesa residential neighborhood or south toward the center of town.
Instead, he pulled into Eagle’s Kum & Go, where he gave up the chase, Mosher said.
Deputies made the arrest with their weapons drawn, handcuffing Tarpey and taking him to jail.
Tarpey was not the murder suspect from Denver. He was charged with reckless driving and speeding 40 mph or more over the speed limit.
“If you’re eluding a deputy and driving excessively, we’re going to take every precaution to protect the public and ourselves,” Mosher said.
Tarpey is free on $100 bond.
Staff Writer Randy Wyrick can be reached at 970-748-2935 or rwyrick@vaildaily.com.
