Man sought in connection to thefts
Incidents of vehicles stolen tied to search in north Loveland
The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office has identified 37-year-old Patrick Gunter as the man believed to have been involved in a series of vehicle thefts Wednesday afternoon in east Fort Collins and then in north Loveland, according to an LCSO release.
Gunter is wanted by the Sheriff’s Office on charges of aggravated motor vehicle theft and vehicular eluding, the release added. He is also wanted on an active warrant for another vehicle theft case from January with charges including aggravated motor vehicle theft, criminal mischief and trespassing, the release added.
The department has told residents to not approach or contact him if found as he may be armed.
The sheriff’s office has asked that anyone with information about Gunter’s current location call law enforcement immediately; the department previously requested anyone with information contact Deputy Michael Hurley at 970-498-5361. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can contact the Crime Stoppers of Larimer County at 970-2216868 or file a tip online at stopcriminals.org.
The Sheriff’s Office released details on the vehicle theft incident in a release Wednesday night.
Just before 2 p.m. the LCSO received a report that a man had stolen a vehicle from the caller’s garage on Rachel Court in unincorporated Larimer County east of Fort Collins, according to a release from the department.
Responding deputies located a red Ford F150 driving eastbound on East Mulberry Street. The suspect allegedly refused to stop, prompting a pursuit onto northbound Interstate 25, the release added.
The truck later exited the interstate at Mountain Vista and then traveled south before heading west on the railroad tracks. The truck then “disappeared from view” in the area of Vine Drive and Timberline Road, and deputies found it abandoned, the release said; a picture provided by the LCSO shows the truck on the railroad tracks where it was abandoned.
Another truck, a white GMC pickup, was reported stolen in the area soon afterward and deputies located this vehicle abandoned as well.
Later that night, LETA 911 sent out an alert warning Loveland residents in the area of Garfield Avenue and 50th Street to remain indoors; this event was later tied to the thefts in Fort Collins earlier in the day.