The La Plata County Sheriff’s Office said Monday it has arrested a Pagosa Springs man during a follow-up to a manhunt last week in Archuleta County.
Shawn Wester, 35, was taken into custody Sunday night by sheriff’s deputies and Colorado State Patrol troopers at a camper trailer in a storage area at Homestead Trails subdivision in Bayfield. He was in possession of a handgun that had its identification numbers removed, according to a news release issued Monday by the Sheriff’s Office.
Wester was arrested for possession of a defaced firearm, possession of a weapon by a previous offender and felony trespass. He was being held Monday on $5,000 bail at La Plata County jail.
The Sheriff’s Office also identified the first suspect who was arrested last week as Vernon Mott, 28, of Alamosa.
Mott surrendered Friday to police searching in a helicopter. He was suffering from frostbite and hypothermia after spending the night outside on the run. No charges have been filed against Mott, but an investigation into any wrongdoing continues, said Dan Bender, spokesman with the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office.
In the meantime, Mott has been released from police custody.
Wester also is considered a suspect in an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Colorado State Patrol.
The standoff began Thursday night after the driver of an SUV eluded State Patrol troopers by turning off U.S. Highway 160 onto First Notch Road (Forest Service Road 620), near the Archuleta-La Plata county line. During the chase, a small trailer being towed by the SUV was detached and set ablaze in the middle of the road. The trailer contained several containers of ammunition and other items.
The SUV was found Friday about a mile from the trailer. It also had been set on fire.
Both the trailer and SUV were reportedly stolen. Police were investigating the possibility that the two men were connected to illegal arms trafficking.
The State Patrol continues its investigation into the incident. No charges have been filed in connection to the eluding incident.
Residents along the Archuleta-La Plata county line area are in no danger related to the incident, Bender said.
shane@durangoherald.com
