Zakary Dean Hirschfield Gets 5 Years for 100 MPH Colorado Chase

Q: How did a routine speeding stop escalate into an hour-long manhunt involving drones, K-9 units, and a suspect in his underwear?

It escalated because the driver, Zakary Dean Hirschfield, turned a routine speeding stop into an alleged assault on a deputy and then a reckless felony escape. Authorities said that when a Douglas County sheriff’s deputy stopped him in Castle Pines, Hirschfield suddenly accelerated toward the deputy, forcing the officer to jump out of the way. From there, investigators said Hirschfield fled through Highlands Ranch and Littleton at speeds above 100 mph. During the chase, he crossed medians, drove into oncoming traffic, and hit another vehicle. His passenger later told deputies she repeatedly begged him to stop, underscoring that the danger extended not only to law enforcement but also to her and other motorists. The manhunt began after Hirschfield abandoned the crashed car and ran off on foot in a Littleton neighborhood. Because he had disappeared into a residential area after a high-risk pursuit, deputies brought in dozens of officers along with drones, a K-9 unit and other specialized resources to track him. About an hour after the original stop, deputies found him hiding under a porch, wearing only his underwear. Body-camera and drone footage later released by the sheriff’s office documented the stop, the chase and the arrest. A subsequent search of Hirschfield’s vehicle, authorities said, uncovered cocaine and drug paraphernalia. He later pleaded guilty to felony eluding a peace officer and was sentenced to five years in prison.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Nov 3

Zakary Dean Hirschfield, 24, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to felony eluding over a January chase through Douglas County.
100 mph flight began after a speeding stop in Castle Pines, where authorities said Hirschfield accelerated toward a deputy, forcing him to jump clear.
The pursuit ran through Highlands Ranch and Littleton, with Hirschfield crossing medians, driving against traffic and crashing into another vehicle before fleeing on foot and abandoning his passenger.
About an hour later, deputies using drones and a K9 found him hiding under a porch in Littleton in his underwear; investigators also found cocaine and drug paraphernalia in his vehicle.
Prosecutors said the chase came after earlier probation and release decisions in fentanyl and robbery cases, arguing he should have been jailed before the pursuit.