A Pagosa Springs man was arrested Sunday night after leading police on a car chase that reached speeds in excess of 100 mph, the Colorado State Patrol reported.

The incident began about 7:10 p.m. when Trooper Jason Shimp with the State Patrol tried to stop a 2003 Dodge pickup near Home Depot in Durango. The chase ended a short time later in Bayfield after troopers used spike strips to deflate the pickup’s tires.

“He was riding on rims and sparking,” said Doug Wiersma, spokesman for the State Patrol in Durango.

Lon Peterson, 30, was wanted on four outstanding warrants, including theft and trespassing. He was being held Monday on suspicion of numerous charges, including felony eluding, reckless driving, possession of drugs and other traffic violations.

Trooper Shimp was stopped on the side of the road with his emergency lights on when Peterson passed in an unsafe way, Wiersma said.

Drivers are required to slow down or move over when possible for stationary emergency vehicles with their lights activated, Wiersma said.

Shimp attempted to stop the pickup, which was headed northbound on South Camino del Rio. The driver exited on a frontage road and pulled over to the shoulder. A woman got out of the truck from the passenger side with her hands raised in the air, according to a news release from the State Patrol.

The woman was identified as Alicia Snow, 42, of Pagosa Springs. She was detained by the Durango Police Department for questioning and later released without charges, the release said.

Peterson continued northbound before turning around at the Walmart intersection, Wiersma said. Peterson headed south past Home Depot and east on U.S. Highway 550/160, reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph, the release said.

Sgt. Ben Stuever with the State Patrol put out a spike strip east of Elmore’s Corner near Dry Creek that eventually deflated two of the pickup’s tires, Wiersma said.

Peterson continued on two flat tires to Bayfield. He exited on U.S. Highway 160B and continued through the town.

The driver attempted to turn south onto Buck Highway (County Road 521), lost control and spun out in the road, the release said.

A trooper used his vehicle to pin the pickup against a curb, and the suspect jumped from the truck and ran a short distance before being arrested by troopers, the release said.

Peterson also is suspected of eluding state troopers in Pagosa Springs last week and eluding Archuleta County Sheriff’s deputies Sunday, hours before his pursuit and capture by troopers.

“This is the guy we’ve been looking for the last week,” Wiersma said.

shane@durangoherald.com