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Wanted suspect taken into custody after ramming patrol car

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LAKEWOOD, Colo. -- A wanted suspect was taken into custody Monday night after eluding capture during a standoff earlier in the day.

Douglas County authorities surrounded a Lakewood home with guns drawn Monday morning. Police said a wanted man may have barricaded himself inside, but he was nowhere to be found when the standoff ended.

Authorities were searching for Zachary Vela, who they originally thought was inside the Lakewood home they surrounded at about 9 a.m. He's wanted over vehicle theft, burglary and vehicle trespassing charges. 

Later that day, deputies caught up with Vela around 10:30 p.m. in the 3500 block of South Harlan Street. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office said the suspect was in a stolen vehicle when he rammed a deputy's patrol car as he tried to get away. The deputy was not injured and Vela was taken into custody.

Although Lakewood is in Jefferson County, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office is the lead agency in the investigation.


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