Local News Outlets Dialed 911 After Spotting Alleged Suspect While Reporting On His Crimes

Local news reporters in Colorado arrived at a crime scene to report on a burglary incident in the area. However, they spotted someone nearby matching the description of the suspect they were reporting on, which quickly led to an arrest.

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What happened: According to a news release by the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred on September 26. Authorities note that a suspect committed “multiple trespasses and burglaries” in Idaho Springs between September 23 and September 25.

The Sheriff’s office explained that they had started an extensive search for the suspect. They revealed his identity as 32-year-old Richard Applequist and arrested him at around 7:00 AM.
Earlier in the morning, several media outlets arrived to report on the burglaries. They spotted a man matching the suspect’s description in the area as he walked directly in front of news cameras.
Two news stations reportedly dialed 911, and deputies apprehended Applequist in the 2000 block of Miner Street.

The Suspect Previously Escaped Authorities After A Car Crash

The suspect escaped on foot: The news release reveals that deputies previously responded to reports that the suspect was armed and in the area on September 25 at around 6:00 PM. They located his vehicle at around 7:30 PM using a drone.

Authorities explain that they spotted Applequist outside the vehicle, but he got in and fled the scene at high speed. He ultimately crashed his car, which rolled into a ditch. “The suspect was able to escape the vehicle and flee on foot before deputies arrived at the crash site,” the release reads.
Police issued a “shelter in place” order for a one-mile radius around the crash site. Officers searched the area on foot with the help of a K9 unit and drones. The search reportedly continued until the arrest in the morning.

Multiple offenses: The news release concludes that Applequist is a ‘person of interest’ in other burglaries in the area, which occurred in the past several weeks. Authorities are holding him at the Clear Creek County jail and are charging him with multiple offenses, including: