CHAFFEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Salida, Colorado

PRESS RELEASE

Fie immediate release

On November 8, 2015 at approximately 2:15 pm the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office received a call of shots fired at a residence south of W Hwy 50.

Upon arrival Officers contacted family members who related that a male, later identified as Andrew Ruffin, 12/16/86, had become quite agitated and began to make threats to harm himself and other family members. According to the complainant she began to feel threatened and was in fear for her own safety so she snuck away from Ruffin and attempted to leave the location in her own vehicle. The complainant stated that as she pulled away from the location the suspect, Andrew Ruffin, drew a pistol and shot at her as she was driving from the residence. The victim, who was uninjured, fled the scene and was contacted by members of the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office and the Salida Police Department.

Officers then responded to the residence where Ruffin was last seen and it was learned after a thorough search that he had fled the residence into the Methodist Mountain area. Officers continued to search till after nightfall however Ruffin was not located.

On 11/09/2015 the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the same location as before. According to the complainants they were driving past the location where the suspect, Andrew Ruffin, had been on the previous date and observed him in the dwelling. Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office and Salida Police personnel both responded and Ruffin once again fled back into the Mount Methodist area. Officers continued to search the area and located the suspect in his vehicle. The suspect began to drive towards uniform officers to where they felt in fear for their lives. Personnel from both the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office and the Salida Police Department fired their weapons at the vehicle in an attempt to stop it and stop the threat. The suspect continued past the officers at a high rate of speed however he wrecked the vehicle a short distance away. More personnel were called to the area to help search for the suspect and a short time later Ruffin was located and taken into custody without incident.

Ruffin was transported to the Chaffee County Detention Facility where he was charged with Criminal Attempt to commit First Degree Assault, a class 4 felony, Felony Menacing, a class 5 felony, Criminal Mischief, a class 6 felony and Theft, a class 3 misdemeanor.