Ryan Westman (Courtesy: San Juan Co. Sheriff's Office)
The US Marshals SWIFT Task Force located the vehicle near Valero gas station off of East Main Street near the Chili's Restaurant. In an effort to flee, the suspect put officers and civilians in danger and Task Force officers fired shots that struck the suspect. A pursuit ensued after shots were fired and a PIT maneuver was made by an officer in an attempt to stop the suspect, which caused the suspect to lose control of the vehicle near CR 350 and US 64.
From the San Juan County Sheriff's Office:
Earlier Thursday, January 25, 2018, local agencies were engaged in a vehicle pursuit of a violent suspect from McKinley County; Ryan Westman (1992) is wanted for aggravated battery out of McKinley County. The vehicle fled from Shiprock Police Department and Farmington Police Department and we launched our helicopter to assist with the pursuit. The pursuit was eventually called off until the suspect was located by law enforcement again Thursday evening.
The US Marshals SWIFT Task Force located the vehicle near Valero gas station off of East Main Street (pictured) near the Chili's Restaurant. In an effort to flee, the suspect put officers and civilians in danger and Task Force officers fired shots that struck the suspect. A pursuit ensued after shots were fired and a PIT maneuver was made by an officer in an attempt to stop the suspect, which caused the suspect to lose control of the vehicle near CR 350 and US 64 (pictured).
The suspect was then taken into custody and is currently being treated at San Juan Regional Medical Center for a gunshot wound. It does not appear to be life threatening at this time. The San Juan County Sheriff's Office will be leading the investigation into the officer involved shooting and we will provide more updates as they become available.
The Sheriff's Office Traffic Reconstruction Team responded to conduct the investigation into the fatal crash. Two persons on bicycles (an adult male and an adult female) were struck by a 2006 Ford Ranger driven by Jaron Todecheeny of Aztec, NM. Both bicyclists died at the scene.
As Vice President of Diversity Affairs at FLC, Heather Shotton has played a pivotal role in advancing a culture of belonging and enhancing student access and success. In addition to her work in diversity affairs, she serves as Acting Dean of Student Engagement, overseeing more than 70 staff members supporting student well-being and success.
The initial call was received at 5:23 AM. The individual was identified from video surveillance. The male was contacted by Durango Police Department Patrol and is now in custody. He has been identified as Joe Brinkerhoff, a resident of the City of Durango. Due to a prior incident, Joe Brinkerhoff was trespassed from the property and his Rec Center privileges were suspended.
After a thorough and ongoing investigation by detectives and working with the district attorney's office, a thorough review of the case was conducted, and the decision to proceed with criminal charges was made. A warrant was issued to charge Heather Fernandez-Hoefer. She was taken into custody without incident on April 1, 2025.
Upon arrival, deputies made contact with multiple individuals including juveniles and young adults and located a deceased individual identified as Samuell Tariq Liggins, age 20.