Daniel Soto, 23, of Commerce City, was sentenced to five years in prison on January 13 for hitting a Broomfield Police Officer with his car as he tried to escape from police during the commission of a crime.

At 3:25 a.m. on January 7, 2009, Broomfield police were called to an apartment complex on Waterside Lane to investigate car break-ins in progress. Soto and three others had been seen breaking into cars in the parking lot. Two of the offenders were juveniles. As the police arrived they all began to run. Soto got into his car, as did one of the juveniles, and began his attempted getaway.

Broomfield Officer Jason Collins had just gotten out of his patrol car when he saw the car driven by Soto accelerating, coming directly at him. Officer Collins was in fear for his life and pulled his gun. As the car driven by Soto came within inches of Officer Collins, he was able to push off of the fast-moving car. Officer Collins fell to the ground. Officer Collins then fired two shots at the car’s rear tires as it continued past him. One tire was flattened. Soto continued in his attempt to get out of the parking lot. He was still accelerating, driving on three tires and a rim, when he rammed the passenger side of another police vehicle which was just pulling in to assist Officer Collins.

On November 6, 2009, Soto pled guilty to Second Degree Assault, a class four felony.

Each of the other three defendants pled guilty to First Degree Criminal Trespass, a class five felony. None had any prior criminal history. They were given a supervised deferred judgment and sentence.

The case occurred in the City and County of Broomfield but the Jefferson County District Attorney was appointed as special prosecutor because of a relationship between the victim and someone on staff at the Adam’s County District Attorney’s Office.