PUEBLO, Colo. – A 35-year-old man was arrested Monday morning after breaking into a local business, stealing a vehicle, and later crashing it into a ditch. The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) responded to the incident that began around 8:30 a.m. at Turner Roofing, located at 4100 West 8th Street.
According to authorities, the suspect broke into the business and stole several sets of car keys. Among the stolen vehicles was a 2024 Chevy Colorado truck belonging to the company. Fortunately, the truck was equipped with GPS, allowing the business owner to track its location and alert deputies.
Law enforcement was able to locate the stolen vehicle, which had crashed into a water ditch north of Highway 96 near Lake Pueblo. Deputies found a man walking in the vicinity who matched the description of the suspect. The individual was later identified as Steven M. Martinez.
When deputies attempted to take Martinez into custody, he refused to comply with orders to get on the ground. Officers then deployed a taser to subdue him before arresting him.
Martinez now faces multiple charges, including Second-Degree Burglary, Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft, Criminal Mischief, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, and Reckless Driving.
Pueblo County Sheriff David J. Lucero expressed his gratitude for the assistance provided by the business employees, noting the significant role the GPS tracking played in helping law enforcement quickly apprehend the suspect.
“I would like to thank the business employees for partnering with us to help capture this suspect,” Sheriff Lucero said. “The vehicle was enabled with GPS and the business owner was able to track it and notify us of the location, which led to locating and arresting the suspect. We appreciate the community that helps us.”
