A La Plata County man suspected of attempted robbery was captured Monday, six hours after fleeing law enforcement.
The pursuit started about 8:10 a.m. in Bayfield and ended at 2:13 p.m. with the arrest of Michael Fisher Wilson north of Vallecito Reservoir.
The suspect, reportedly driving a tan Honda Accord, reached speeds of 80 mph on County Road 501 north of Bayfield. The chase continued 16 miles north to Vallecito Reservoir. During the pursuit, the driver attempted to hit other vehicles, and did hit a law enforcement vehicle in the 12500 block of County Road 501, just south of Vallecito, according to scanner traffic.
The vehicle was found abandoned on the side of the road about 8:45 a.m. on County Road 500, north of Vallecito Reservoir. Deputies searched the area for about 5½ hours.
The man is suspected of attempted robbery of the Grocery Store at Bayfield, 381 E. Colorado Drive, said Dan Bender, spokesman with the La Plata County Sheriff's Office.
The suspect was in a checkout line earlier that morning at Grocery Store at Bayfield, 381 East Colorado Drive, when he asked for money, said Paul Peeples, the owner of the store.
Peeples said he refused to hand over any money, and told the man, whom he described as a 20-year-old he knows, to go call his dad. Another customer in line called the Bayfield Marshal's Office, Peeples said.
"It was the strangest thing," Peeples said. The man did not show a weapon, then left the store.
"I hope they catch him and he's OK," Peeples said.
Pine River Times editor Melanie Mazur contributed to this article. shane@durangoherald.com
